The Christmas frenzy is over, and the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly are sitting back surveying our Christmas plunder. Only a few days ago, the house was ablaze with Christmas lights, and the rafters were echoing with Christmas delight. Now, much to my delight, quietness is tiptoeing through our house.
In surveying my Christmas plunder, several thoughts, like sugarplums, are dancing in my head. The primary thought is simply, what am I going to do with all these gifts? My gifts range in several categories. In the fi rst category, there is aftershave, cologne and deodorant. Obviously, those who know me the best think I stink. The fi rst thing that comes to their mind when they think of me is the Bible verse, "by now he stinketh" (John 11:39). At least they are biblical. The second category of Christmas gifts is clothing. This covers a large area … I'm a big man. Two sizes are associated with the Christmas clothing I get each year. Either they are too small or too big. None of my relatives knows me that well. This brings me to my current dilemma. What can I do with all these Christmas presents, especially the ones I cannot wear or use? What is the best thing to do, re-gift, or return these Christmas presents? I like the idea of returning presents I cannot use or wear in exchange for something I can use or wear. It is a simple matter of going back to the mall and negotiating the exchange. If you think the mall is a dangerous place prior to Christmas, try going there the day after Christmas. It never fails, by the time I have waited in line for my turn to do the exchange; they no longer have my size and give me a rain check. I really hate it when it rains on my parade. Then there is the idea of re-gifting. I am beginning to like this idea more and more. For this reason, when I unwrap my presents, I am very careful not to tear the wrapping paper. This way, I not only have next year's Christmas present, but I have the wrapping paper to go with it. The fi rst Christmas I thought of this was a high watermark day in my life. I was proud of myself to be able to kill several birds with one stone. Unbeknownst to me, the biggest bird I killed was myself. This did not show itself until the following Christmas when, by not giving this proper thought, I gave people the gift they gave me the previous Christmas. Believe me; I had a lot of "splaining" to do. Nobody tells you this about Christmas in those etiquette books, but if you are going to re-gift a Christmas present, make sure you remember who gave it to you in the fi rst place. It is diffi cult trying to fi nd the perfect gift as only one person has mastered the fi nesse of it. The Bible says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17). The gift God gives is one that you will have no reason to return. [Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. His web site is www.jamessnyderministries.com. |
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