Like many of you I am sure, I have been taking in a steady diet of Christmas music. I am certainly not one of those people who listen to Christmas music all year round, like this guy, but once the Thanksgiving turkey has fully digested, I say bring it on. Most of the songs are so familiar that we don’t pay much attention to the lyrics, at least, I find myself not paying attention. The other day however, Rylee and I were having a Daddy-Daughter dance in the living room and the song happened to be The Little Drummer boy. As we danced I began to describe what the little drummer boy was doing and experiencing. As I began to explain to her about this poor little drummer boy who was trying to give the baby Jesus a gift fit for a King I began to get overwhelmed by the significant theology found in the lyrics of this classic. The picture here is the cover of my favorite version of the song by Jars of Clay. Here are the lyrics that I would love for you to take some time to ponder.
Come they told me,
A new born King to see,
Our finest gifts we bring,
To lay before the King,So to honor Him,
When we come.
Little Baby,
I am a poor boy too,
I have no gift to bring,
That’s fit to give the King,
Shall I play for you,
On my drum?
Mary nodded,
The ox and lamb kept time,
I played my drum for Him,
I played my best for Him,
Then He smiled at me,
Me and my drum.
I was deeply struck by the desire of this little boy wanting to bring Jesus the best. I often find myself feeling like the poor boy, that I do not have the finer things to give Jesus. But what the poor boy did was give Jesus the best gift that he had, he gave him a song that came from his heart using his God given gifting and ability. I was floored by that thought once again and just want to give Jesus my heart, my best, my life, my all each and every day. The line that totally got to me was “then He smiled at me.” I love that Jesus is pleased when we give from our heart. I know that I have gifts to bring the King every day. I don’t know about you but some days I wake up with a desire to use them and some days I wake up – on the other side of the bed.
I am grateful for a sweet daughter who encouraged me to take some time to actually listen to the profound words of these worshipful songs we hear all the time throughout the Christmas season. I pass the challenge on to you, take time to listen to your favorite songs and allow them to sink in. Who knows what you might hear!
-Chris
Table for Six 