now that you've opened your presents...

Fifty-two percent of polled Americans admitted that they "re-gift" presents or say they will do so in the future. Four percent of those polled say they do this because they don't like the person they are giving the gift to. (TIME magazine, Oct. 16, 2006)

In light of all that frustrated fruitcake passing, here's some more Jim Gaffigan fun:

I got a robe for Christmas. I remember looking at the robe thinking, "Wow, I hope I get the flu so I can wear it." Who has the time for a robe? It's a weird piece of clothing... how'd we even come up with the robe? Some guy said, "Hey I got an idea. How about if we make a coat out of a towel?" The indoor jacket... the robe. Ever seen someone outside in a robe? They look like they just escaped from the looney bin. "Ah, just getting the paper." "Before the monsters do, right?"

Ever get a candle as a gift? "Uh, thanks. You know I have electricity, right? Look if my place smells just tell me, alright. Now I know what I'm getting you next year... this."

It's a gamble with gifts... the Statue of Liberty was a gift - a big beautiful statue from the French. Good thing the Statue is beautiful because if it was ugly that would have been awkward. The French would come up, "Where's the Statue of Liberty?" "Yeah, uh, it's in the desert in Arizona. Yeah, we thought it really complemented the desert." It would have even been more awkward if we regifted the Statue. "Where's that gigantic Statue?" "Um, Japan was having a birthday and we didn't know what to get them, so we we said it was from both of us."

Kind of makes me wonder how many of us will hear the Christmas message this year and receive a gift in an offer to give ourselves to Jesus... for the first time or five-thousandth time. Perhaps we will allow that gift to become new again in our hearts as we become new again to Him... or perhaps we'll hope that Jesus has a gift receipt attached somewhere so we can trade him in for something that better suits our fancy. Either way, the gift is still there... waiting for us to open it and be blessed beyond measure.

Repgifting presents is one thing... trying to regift His presence is another.

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." (Luke 2:11-12)