Christmas Gift Exchange

Christmas Gift Exchange
Tuesday, December 13, 2022 by Sue Cameron

It happened at a holiday gift exchange. We each brought an unmarked gift -- our invitation suggested “the more unique the better.”

I thought it was unique that the Chaplain chose the biggest box only to find it held a six-pack of beer. He spent the night trying to trade it off. Then his wife opened a personal clothing item, meant for a male. She was lucky, though, a kind soul traded with her and she got a year old fruit cake.

That was the other unique thing about this gift exchange

When our number was called we could open a new gift or take one we liked from someone else.

When the Far Side calendar was opened, I jabbed my husband in the ribs, “Get that one,” I ordered.

Ohhh’s and ahh’s went up when the wine with two glasses was unwrapped.

But I didn’t want the wine, I wanted the Christmas mugs holding packages of flavored coffee. “Get me the mugs,” I instructed when my husband’s number was called.

He did and had them for about three minutes before the lady on the couch nabbed them. “Get that Far Side calendar,” I urged my husband. He did and hid it under his thigh.

As the exchange progressed, fewer people opened new gifts as everyone’s favorites were swapped back and forth. It got to the point that we all just stayed seated and passed the best items from one to the other. My hands just touched the mugs when I had to release them again. Drat!

Somehow, during this round robin my husband ended up empty handed. “Something’s wrong,” I warned him. He glanced around looking for the mugs, the popcorn, the calendar. Then he turned towards the unopened presents.

I growled, “No, don’t open an unknown gift.” My voice rose in sharp tones “How’d you lose the calendar? Why don’t you have the mugs?” He glanced at me, then reached for a gift. We got a small pair of plastic elephant piggy banks. I rolled my eyes, disgusted. My husband looked at me, ashamed.

Today, after the party, I’m looking at myself, and I’m the one ashamed.

I yelled at him in front of all those people, just because of a set of mugs. I don’t need mugs. I can’t use the ones I have. I don’t have room on the shelf for more.

Ever notice that what happens to you reveals what’s in you? Jesus said it, “What goes into a man’s mouth doesn’t make him ‘unclean’, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean.” [Matthew 15:11]

Ouch. Why did Jesus have to say that?

I’d rather think that the problem lies with everything outside me. I don’t like to look inside. To face the truth. And I don’t like what came out of me that night -- greed, pure and filthy. And that’s the truth.

A friend of mine was at that same party, amid the same presents and opportunity. Know what she did when it was her turn? She stood. She walked slowly around the room, searching. “She’s looking for the calendar,’’ I thought.

Nope.

She reached for a box holding a ceramic Christmas tree. The tree was lovely, except it was broken. I watched her gently remove the fractured tree from its box. “I think all the pieces are here,” she said peering into it.

“Do you think you can fix it?” her husband asked.

“I think I can,” she answered.

My friend went home with a real treasure: a heart that sees promise and beauty in broken things.

A prayer for today

Slow me down inside, Lord, during this hectic holiday season, so that I can recognize and appreciate Your hidden treasures and blessings. Amen.

For more stories by Sue Cameron, see My Roots Go Back to Loving in the Bookstore

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