Many years ago I found myself sitting in the parking lot of our local grocery store listening to the radio. I originally went to the store to get a few items we needed at home. On the way I found that the cd I was listening to was skipping so I shut it off and turned on the radio. One of the kids must have turned the station because what began playing was Christmas music. As I headed to the store I listened and sang along. But as I got to the parking lot “The Little Drummer Boy” came on. Admittedly it’s not one of my favorite Christmas carols. But there was something different about this version of the song and I had not heard it before. Captivated, I stayed in my car and listened, truly listened, to the words of that song. Before I knew it I was crying.
You see, I had never really listened to the lyrics before… sure I knew them, I could even sing all the words, but I had never listened to them. That year we had a plethora of things going wrong for us… our heater was out, our dishwasher and washing machine had broken, Mike had been really sick and missed work leaving us short on money too, and several of the kids were undergoing a lot of medical tests. It was a hard time for us. I felt beaten down, lost, and alone. At that moment, sitting in the car, I realized something… I was the little drummer boy. Here it was close to Christmas and I had no money to give others, I had no extras to help out the needy, and I had barely enough just to help ourselves. All I could think was “I have no gift to bring…“
While our lives are not the same now as they were 5 years ago, we still have some major stressors happening that seem to make us feel very similar to the way I felt that year. However, this year, I can look at what we are going through and apply the lesson that I learned so many years ago. On that chilly December day while listening to “The Little Drummer Boy” I discovered that like the drummer boy I do have gifts to present before our King. I can always give my faith, my trust, my hope, and my love. They are the gifts that mean the most anyhow!
When you are feeling like you just don’t have anything to give and you are feeling down, remember that you do have more than you think to give back, not only to God, but to others as well. What society tells us is worthy of a king is not what God wants from us. The joyous season of preparing for the birth of our Lord is often overshadowed by consumerism and greed. It can leave us feeling like we can not compete in a world that wants so very much from us. We have to remember that this is not what Advent, nor Christmas is truly about. God asks more of us than just material goods. The gifts He wants and wants us to give others are so much more important. When you feel you have nothing to give remember you always have your prayers, your love, your faith, your hope, your kindness, your strength, your trust, and your praises… gifts truly worthy of a King!
“Then He smiled at me… “
“The Little Drummer Boy”
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.
Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?
Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,
Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.