For Sale...

In a few weeks time there will be appearing in the small ads section of local newspapers throughout the country some of the saddest words in the English language. A simple straight forward phrase made up of three words that leave no one in any doubt. The phrase, “Unwanted Christmas Present”


Now it could be argued that once you are given a present it is yours to do with what you wish. If you wish to sell it then you are more than entitled to do so but the phrase, “unwanted present” seems so ungracious and ungrateful.

Over the years I am sure that I have had my fair share of present disasters, shirts that do not fit, colourful sweaters, books, videos or DVDs that I already owned or would not want to own. I am also fairly confident that I have been the cause of a few present disasters but I think I can confidently say that I have given some thought to every present I have bought and have appreciated the fact, however misguided or misplaced someone has thought enough about me to buy me a present, after all it is the ‘thought that counts’

Now it’s one thing to sell unwanted presents but if you do not even open the ‘unwanted’ present that takes us to a whole new different level. Who would be so mean, ungrateful or ungracious to do that? Yet every single Christmas that is what countless number of us do.

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...” Christmas is the time when we celebrate the gift of love, hope and peace in the form of a baby born in a manger. We all know people who decide that it is an ‘unwanted gift’. That of course is their right but it is our challenge as Christians to encourage them to at least ‘open their present’

Although I can remember some unwanted presents I can also recall presents that if I am honest I would not have bought for myself but turned out to be unexpected gems.