This week we gathered as a staff for our annual Christmas party. The culinary artistry of my colleagues and their spouses was in full form.  It was a wonderful evening of good food, good wine, much laughter and great fellowship –  the embodiment of the phrase live well, laugh often, love much.    We lived and we laughed and we shared our love and respect for one another.  My colleagues are truly gifts to me and I respect them greatly for their commitment to our shared ministry together. 

Part of the evening included a gift exchange.  All the gifts were placed together and numbers were drawn out of a hat.  The first person got to choose a gift and open it.  The next person could either steal the gift or choose another gift to open.  Each successive person could then steal or choose their own.  No gift could be stolen more than two times.  There were some very nice gifts and a few white elephants.  LSU memorabilia abounded.  As the night went on, the competition grew fierce and the collegial bantering got intense, especially when six LSU Men’s Basketball tickets were unwrapped.  I did my share of wheeling and dealing, leaving with a nice LSU Tiger coffee mug and bowl.   But more than leaving with the “gift” I wanted, I left having received friendship, laughter and love.   And I had the chance to share them as well.   They were the true gifts exchanged that night.  And no one had to steal to get them!