Dec
20
The Little Drummer Boy
Filed Under Life
I’ve never really listened to the words of “The Little Drummer Boy” but one night while I was riding home, the song came on the radio and I actually paid attention to the words. Here they are for you:
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.
Here is this little boy, wanting so badly to give a gift to his king. I can just envision the sadness in his eyes when he says all he has is his drum. He doesn’t feel he has a gift that is fit for a king, but since it is all he has, he gives it his all. He “played [his] best for Him.” Then when it was all over, “He smiled at [him].” pa rum pum pum pum.
Sometimes we may feel the gifts we have to give are not elaborate or “good enough.” But when we give it our all, when we don’t short change the gifts God has given us, there will be someone smiling at us – if not here on earth, then up in heaven.
I was at the inaugural Bowerman Award presentation, which is awarded to the most outstanding collegiate men’s and women’s track and field athlete. Porscha Lucas, from Texas A&M, was one of the finalists. She said, “I thank God for my talents, but I have to perfect my talents.”
God has given us all talents and we need to embrace and perfect them. Sometimes I envy other peoples’ talents and feel mine aren’t good enough…they’re not fit for a king. But it is my King who gave me my talents…they are my gifts from him. To truly honor Him, I will perfect them and use them to glorify the One who gave them to me.