My
sister’s birthday is in January. This might possibly be the worst time of year to
have a birthday. People are already worn out by too much yummy food, too much
shopping, too much stuff, and too much celebrating. They are too worn out to
even consider celebrating you. It’s a challenge to even find a present for
someone in January. Presumably they have already received everything they want
or need. And, unless like this amazing
sister you shopped ahead, there is nothing to purchase to celebrate your loved
one that is not picked over and rejected from Christmas. Even worse, those with
January birthdays are often the victims of re-gifting. Rather than receiving a
gift that is thoughtfully chosen, they receive the left-over or rejected gifts
that have already been opened and found lacking by someone else.
While
many people ridicule the re-gift, there is one gift received at Christmas that
absolutely must be re-gifted: the gift of Jesus Christ. While Christmas is over:
boxed up and stored in the rafters for next year, the gift we have received
through Jesus Christ lives in our hearts and lives all year. This gift we have
the privilege of re-gifting to others. It is our joy to help give this gift
away. And the gift isn’t just the story of the baby in the manger, it is
infinitely more. Better than clothes, toys or electronics, we receive grace,
mercy and forgiveness. Better than the fleeting happiness that comes in a box
we receive the imperishable gift of salvation-if we will accept it. Don’t leave
the best gift of your lifetime boxed up and stored in the rafters; this year, let’s
all be re-gifters.
And all of this is a gift
from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us
this task of reconciling people to him. 2 Corinthians 5:18
