Daily Wisdom 12-07-2001 The Exchange Gift

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The Exchange Gift

When I was in elementary school, the marvelous December holiday was still called Christmas, not winter holiday. The teacher put all our names in a hat, and we would draw a name and give that person a Christmas gift. The day of the party was wonderful, with food and games, but of course, to me, the highlight was the gift exchange. Each gift was to be anonymously given, but somehow we usually knew who had given each gift. There was either a look of satisfaction or perhaps one of embarrassment on the gift givers face. I would always scan the sea of little faces before I opened my gift, wondering, would I rip into my package for a wonderful present or brace myself for a disappointing one?

As I grew older the school exchange was erased from my life, but came alive once again as our family grew. With the marriage of siblings, birth of children, and limited finances of all involved, our family decided to participate in the family gift exchange program for Christmas giving. I was a little more sophisticated by this time, but don't think I didn't wonder who was giving me my gift. It made a difference you know. Would it be from a man, woman or child? From a close sibling who would make the selection with great care, or a distant relative who would just give any gift to get the job done?

I always hoped the gift I gave would at least match up in worth to the one I received, so I wouldn't be embarrassed or outdone. I wanted things to be equal, more or less.

I want to tell you about another gift exchange I experienced in my life, one which was so unbalanced it is hard to believe. This exchange transpired when I believed and accepted the fact that Jesus had died for my sins. I gave him my sins, and He gave me His goodness and forgiveness. How totally unbalanced is that? I got everything wonderful and gave him my bag of sinful garbage.

The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God's goodness into us. What a swap that was! How loving a God we have - one who was willing to allow His son to suffer the stench of sin and the pain of bearing it so that we could be reconciled with Him, our heavenly Father.

If you have never participated in a Christmas exchange, I encourage you to do so. Accept the gift of eternal life and forgiveness of sin that Christ himself will give you. It is certainly not an even exchange, but one that He offers with love so profound it is beyond our understanding.

Contributed by Marion Smith
Comments/Feedback are welcome