The Little Drummer Boy
Dear Reader,
In the midst of the holiday chaos, everyone is given catalogs for store deals; buy this, and buy that. Advertisements come up with witty ways to capture your attention, ultimately pressing the issue of giving a loved one a grand gift. Don’t get me wrong, the intentions are wonderful; who wouldn’t love to give a new car, or the latest piece of technology to someone you care about? But, what if you can’t? What if you are unable to meet society’s standards for Christmas gift giving? There are countless people that are without a home, are behind on bills, and, in general, struggle to put food on the table.
As someone who loves to give gifts, believe me, I get it. It’s an internal struggle that pulls at your heartstrings when you’re unable to provide something of joy for a loved one. So, in this little Christmas letter, I wanted to share something close to my heart. A little reminder, if you will.
Do you have a favorite Christmas song? Mine has always been ‘The Little Drummer Boy.’ It’s one of the countless Christmas songs that have had many remakes. No matter the version, the lyrics are what I care most about. However, I will share with you a newer version by For King & Country. If you haven’t listened to, read the lyrics, or watched For King & Country’s ‘The Little Drummer Boy,’ then I encourage you to do so.
One reason I love this song so much, is because it focuses on the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas has never been about giving the best gift, it’s never been about the lights or the trees; those are only traditions established by the true meaning. Nothing wrong with that, of course, I doubt many of us are thinking of the birth of Jesus when hanging up tangled lights, or putting our favorite characters on our trees. Putting that aside, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It’s a time of fellowship and remembrance/celebration of everything God has and will do for His people.
If I could borrow your attention for a moment longer, I’d like to break down some of the lyrics.
“Come they told me… Our finest gifts we bring… to lay before the king… so to honor him… when we come.”
I want you to look at “our finest gifts we bring,” many believe this to be the most expensive thing. If you were to present a gift to a king, you probably would want to try to woo them with gold, or some type of jewel. But, does that really matter to God? We are talking about the same God that sent his son to be born in a manger. The definition of a manger, according to lexico, is “a long open box or trough for horses or cattle to eat from.” Have you ever seen a trough? It is filthy. From the very beginning, God wanted to be able to connect with people from all walks of life. “Our finest gifts” can vary from person to person. However, God looks at the heart. So, the heart is all that matters when celebrating Jesus’ birth.
“I am a poor boy too… I have no gift to bring…”
I’m sure many of us, if not all of us, have felt inferior at some point in our lives. So often we try to please those around us. We seek gratification, approval, and to be understood. We, as humans, want to feel loved, to be appreciated, to accomplish something great. However, too often we lose sight of the little detail that we are not our neighbor. God never intended for us to be our neighbor.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome the, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. - 1 John 4:4-5
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
The little drummer boy is not a true bible story, but the principle of the lyrics are what I like to look at. We can all give, but, what one person gives may look very different than what another can give. In all, what we give should be in celebration of Jesus’ birth. Our hearts should be focused on him. It’s a challenge in all this commotion, isn’t it?
“I have no gift to bring… that’s fit to give our king. Shall I play for you, on my drum?”
Sometimes all we have is our drum. Whether it’s crafting, time, laughter, stories, encouragement, a listening ear, money, gifts, music… the list is endless because we are all different. He made us all different. Think about that for a second. Every single person on this earth is different.
“Then he smiled at me, me and my drum.”
God smiles at us when we use what we have to glorify Him. It can be anything, and just as He used the little boy with the five loaves of bread and two fish to feed the crowd, He will provide all of our needs beyond what we could ever imagine. So, if you are struggling. Just remember, anything is possible when placed in the hands of God. Move forward, have faith, and play your drum as loud as you can. Because, in the end, God can take what little you may have and multiply it. All you have to do is play your drum.
I’ll say it again:
“Then he smiled at me, me and my drum.”
Merry Christmas,
KT Hughes