White Elephant

I think everyone has participated in at least one white elephant gift exchange at Christmas time; but did you ever wonder where it came from. Well, I was and decided to do a little research and found the results interesting. 
Legend has it that the king of Siam gave a white elephant to subjects that had displeased him. Those who received the gift thought they were being honored by the king but they soon realized it was quite the opposite. Since the king had given them the elephant, they were not able to sell it and soon went bankrupt due to the cost of upkeep! I couldn't help but laugh when I read this!
Later in the 1950's the term "white elephant sales" was used by church bazaars where people could drop off things they didn't want and browse what others had brought. Churches hoped to cash in on the term "one man's junk is another man's treasure". 
Today white elephant gift exhanges are among the most popular activities at Christmas parties. Usually people bring cheap, impractical gifts and a lot of good natured bantering takes place. But I am so glad that over 2,000 years ago a gift was given to all mankind that was very needed and definitely not cheap. God, in great love, gave us His one and only Son so that man could have access to the gift of eternal life. This gift, the greatest ever given, can never be outdone and is available to all! Truly we can say with the apostle Paul, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." - 2 Corinthians 9:15
I pray that you will have a very blessed Christmas surrounded by those you love and cherish. Merry Christmas everyone and may God bless you!

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