Related Topics: Joy | More Messages from Dr. Shaun King

From Series: "[re]gift"

Ever received a gift at Christmas, that you knew at the time was simply not going to work? Maybe it was the wrong size or color or style. Maybe it was that tie that was a little too wide, or a that special “Rudolf the red nose reindeer” sweater your Aunt Esther hand made for you. And you knew, despite the fact that it lights up in the dark AND plays music, that it’s simply not…going…to happen. So, what do we do with those gifts? Well, I suppose you could keep them. Fashion, after all, is cyclical. Everything makes a comeback sooner or later. Right? But if you are like most, you probably have a special place in your house for these kinds of gifts, don’t you? Some spot that serves as your own personal island of misfit toys. Because from the moment you open the package, you know exactly what you’re going to do with it. Regift! According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, regifting is to “give someone a gift that was previously received from someone else.” Approximately 1 in 3 of us (32%) have regifted at one time or another during the holidays. According to one national survey, 92% of Americans believe that regifting is an acceptable and appropriate practice. As many as 62% say they are planning to regift something this year during the holidays. So, if you can’t seem to find the right spot to hang that “Billy the singing Big Mouth Bass” picture… then, wrap it up. If you’re planning on freezing that fruitcake and breaking it out at the office party, go for it. You’re not alone. But what if there were a way to think of regifting differently? What would happen if this Christmas we were to take a serious look into a closet of a different kind? What if we were to open the doors of our hearts and take inventory of all the priceless and invaluable gifts that have come to us because of Christmas; because of the birth of the One who came to make all things new. What if we were to unwrap the gifts of hope…and peace…and love…and joy, to name just a few. And instead of keeping them to ourselves, what if we were to actually share them? To deliberately, strategically pass them on to others. What would it look like? What could it look like, to really regift Christmas?