A Gift to Bring
(originally written December 2020)
Christmas time has meant so many different things to me over the years. It was a time filled with jubilant expectation at what the mysterious morning presents would bring. It then became a time to return home to be with family and old friends. It’s now a time to relax and refresh in preparation of a new year ahead. But there’s one thing it’s always been. The main reason we celebrate this day and this season – a reminder of the incarnate King.
Stories have always been a short cut to the deeper places of my heart. And one thing I love about music through song is the strategic word choice to tell a whole story in just about four minutes. Songs that are able to capture my imagination and thrust me into their story are the kinds of songs that I cherish. It’s no surprise that the Christmas season is full of these songs for no other reason than this – because, my friends, there is a True Story to tell.
There are a number of songs that come to mind when I think about favorite Christmas songs, but there’s one this season that’s hit closest to home. It’s largely due to its relatability in this time of my life. The song is “Little Drummer Boy.”
It tells the story of a little boy who has been told that a King has been born. As he approaches this King, he sees others bringing their finest gifts as a way to bestow honor upon Him. This poor boy, as his turn is approaching to give, is well aware that his gift doesn’t add up to those around him – for he has nothing to bring.
What I love is that this boy approached anyway. He wasn’t going to miss his chance to bring honor to the King.
His turn has come and the first thing he does is admit his lack for he has seen the other “kingly gifts.” Yet he goes on to ask if he can play for the baby. Mary nods her head in motherly approval and the boy plays.
The story shifts to the boy’s perspective, as though he is recounting this experience from memory in the form of testimony. He says that he played for the King – he played his best. This is all leading up to the kicker for this drummer boy, the reason this experience has meant enough to him to share his story. For he says – the King smiled at me.
A smile from a baby gave this boy a story to tell all because he decided to give the best he had regardless of whether the world saw that gift as worthy or not.
This story struck me because I too am aware that I have nothing to give that’s fit for a King. And there’s a wrestle in my heart because I desperately desire Him to receive the honor He’s due. For this is a King worthy of worship.
Psalm 51 verse 17 comes to mind, “The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” I want to remind you of the lesson to be learned from this little drummer boy. He didn’t wait until he had it all figured out and something spectacular to give before he came. No, he came exactly as he was, poor and empty-handed, and gave what he could – his best.
This Christmas season remember the incarnate King Jesus who came to earth as a baby with real flesh and real blood, as a servant, to lay down His life as atonement for our sins. The worship He desires is not found in grand gifts and loud sacrifice. No, a heart that recognizes its need for Jesus in the form of repentance with a posture fixed on worship. This is the gift of the drummer boy. This is our gift that brings a smile — to our King.
