Lil Drummer Boy

One of my favorite things to do during this time of year (besides eat every dessert in sight) is to listen to Christmas music. There is something special about having this whole batch of songs that you absolutely love but can only listen to from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. 

My favorite Christmas song is “Lil Drummer Boy" and, in realizing this was my favorite song I thought about the fact that it wasn't at all a “gospel” song, nor was it in the Bible. But what if it was?

  I definitely wish I could be the lil drummer boy (weird I know).  But think about it- this song is talking about a little boy who wants to go see the King and, in realizing that everyone else is bringing gifts, notices that he doesn't have a physical one, but at the same time recognizes that his talent (playing the drums) was one.

“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? “



It makes me think about how many times I have disqualified myself because my gifts didn’t look like everyone else’s. It also makes me think, that had this been a real story in the Bible, playing the drums would have been the most valuable gift of all. 

I have a deep desire to look around and see that I don’t have what everyone else does, and then don’t use that as an excuse to stop me. Would I have continued to go knowing people were bringing such great things? Would I have recognized the internal gift I possessed? I am not sure. 



“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.”



My favorite part of the song is when the boy played his best, and the King smiled. Sigh, not quite sure why that makes me so happy. The thought of doing the best I can for Jesus, living my life filled with purpose and making Him smile… well, that’s the point of life isn't it? Riches can be obtained quickly and lost just as fast, but it’s the gifting that God gives us that remains- just like a homeless person can have the best voice you've ever heard in your life. For some people what they have internally is all that they have, and that doesn't diminish it one bit.

So, as I've gotten super deep with a Christmas song (lol) it takes me to a place of worship, reminding myself to remember that Jesus smiles when I bring him my best. When I take my talents and use it to glorify Him, and when I don’t sit on the sidelines because what everyone else is bringing to the table seems lavish. When I worship and pray and do my God calling I am that little drummer boy who just wants to bring him everything I have, no matter how small it is. 

Unsightly Praise

My praise isn't pretty. There is no way it can be. God has brought me through so much. He has taken me from a place of complete confusion and desperate times to his light. So, I apologize if I don't praise him the way I should. If I don't raise my hands how the pastor tells me to, or if I at times can not contain myself and I can't "Keep Calm". 

Many of us can go to the concert of our favorite artist and sing until our voices go out. We can wait in lines for hours for the new pair of Jordan's or a video game. And while all those things excite me, and I love music and shoes as much as the next person, there is no way I can have more excitement for any of those things over my GOD. I am just not built that way. I was literally SAVED. Going to hell in a hand basket. Intentionally making decisions that didn't glorify God. I constantly flirted with death. My salvation wasn't cute, neither was my transformation. It is and will always be a confrontation with my flesh, but this time one that I am disarming. I know now that I can no longer compare my praise to others. 

"If you don't know my pain, you can never understand my praise"

I used to feel like something was wrong when I didn't praise how saw other people praise God, if I didn't cry when everyone else was or if I didn't run around the church until I fell out. But I know that my story isn't anyone else's story, my struggle isn't anyone else struggle, and most importantly my relationship with God is not like anyone else's. There is no wrong way to love him, to admire him, and to honor him.

So, please forgive me  for my unsightly praise, or if I can’t control my emotions, but when someone literally saved you from death and brought you into eternal life……… is there  such a thing as thanking them too much?