White Elephant
We are smack in the middle of Christmas party time. My family attended a small group Christmas party this week. The dinner and dessert were wonderful, but the most enjoyable part of the night was the white elephant game. If you've never played this game, here are the rules. Each person brings a wrapped gift costing a predetermined amount of money (in this case, $5). Participants pick a number from a basket to determine in what order they play the game. The first person chooses a gift and opens it in front of everyone else. The next person can either choose a new gift or "steal" the gift the first person opened, causing that person to choose a new gift. (Usually there are also rules about how many times a gift can be stolen.)
My teenage son Josiah was the second person to choose a gift during the game. He chose a new gift -- a kitchen knife sharpener. He wasn't too thrilled with this gift. What could he do with a sharpener?
My 10-year-old son Kaden stole a Christmas mug full of candy and proceeded to try to hide it, hoping it wouldn't get stolen. His plan worked well so he went home a happy boy.
A few more turns later, Josiah's knife sharpener was stolen by someone who said he'd always wanted one. What a relief! Until he opened the next gift . . . a silicone oven mitt. What are the chances? Another kitchen tool!
For the next 30 minutes, Josiah tried to promote his oven mitt to each person taking the next turn. "This is a great oven mitt here! I bet it would come in handy while you're cooking." He might as well have been begging anyone and everyone to steal his gift so that he could pick something better. Finally, his wish came true! He was thrilled to get another chance . . . only to find a ceramic travel mug and Christmas towel inside the bag. Good grief! This kid just can't win! He settled for giving me an early Christmas present with his gift since no one wanted to steal it.
"One man's trash is another man's treasure." That saying held true during our white elephant game. I brought gifts to trade that I didn't want. Josiah tried desperately to trade his gifts for better ones. He definitely didn't treasure his gifts but considered them give-away material. Others at the party loved the gifts we brought. Josiah had his gifts stolen by those who valued what he had.
Some of us have been through difficult times. We've been hurt by those who should have loved us and protected us. We feel worthless, definitely give-away material.
No matter how we feel about ourselves, no matter how others treat us, there is One who considers us His treasure.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
Hold your head high; you are God's masterpiece, a treasure, for sure.
