At one time or another in our lives, we've all experienced it. Whether it was a gathering with family, friends, or co-workers or the occasion was a birthday or Christmas, practically every breathing individual in the Western world can relate to this awkward incidence. It's an extremely uncomfortable encounter most would prefer to avoid, but there is simply no easy escape from the act of feigning gratefulness upon receipt of a gift that bears absolutely no significance to your personal well being!

Once we have graciously faked our way through the grateful part, we are faced with another less stressful decision. What do we do with the gift we will never use? We become regifters! In the past, this was looked upon as a tactless and shameful act, but it has found a new place of respect in the 21st century.

According to regiftable.com, "regifting has become a phenomenon," and two out of three people have either regifted or are considering doing so. "Regift" has even been added to the familiar saying "Reuse, Reduce, Recycle," and they have declared the Thursday before Christmas as "National Regifting Day."

I certainly don't want to be guilty of spiritualizing something as carnal as regifting, but I do believe the concept has merit. Prior to sending out a group of His disciples, Jesus admonished them by saying "freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8b). He was telling them to become regifters! Of course, this is not in the same sense as we think of it now, but as we read other accounts in Scripture, we realize two things. All of us have freely received gifts from God, and all of us are commanded to do something useful with them.

The Parable of the Talents is one example. Though each individual was given a different amount, all were given an amount "according to his several ability"(Matthew 25:15b). The amount given did not matter, but what was done with what was given did matter. The one who hid his talent received a sharp rebuke and was labeled an "unprofitable servant" (Matthew 25:30).

Spiritual regifting is not a shameful act, but instead an act of obedience. To not regift one's spiritual talents is looked upon as an act of laziness that brings shame.

In his book Culture Making, author Andy Crouch relates this to our impact on culture. "Every other creative capacity we have has likewise arrived as a gift we did not earn and to which we are not entitled...Our most important cultural contribution will very likely come from doing whatever keeps us precisely in the center of delight and surprise."

During this Christmas season, we at Alpha Omega Publications® wish to acknowledge all of the talented regifters working in the Christian schools across the world. We are thankful for your diligent efforts in giving freely to the children and youth in your community, and it is our prayer that God will abundantly bless your efforts and multiply your gifts as you continue to freely give them to the students in your care. May your Christmas season be blessed, and may you continue to make your impact on culture one student at a time in the coming new year.

Roy Faletti
Vice President of Educational Services