My Favorite Christmas Carol

So I couldn't let the holidays go by without have at least one serious post. I wanted to talk about my favorite Christmas carol, The Little Drummer Boy. It is such a simple song but it makes me a little teary-eyed when I hear it during this time of year.

Let's start at the beginning:

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.

This is the story of Christmas. Come and see. As Linus so wonderfully recites from Luke 2 in A Charlie Brown Christmas:

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'" Linus says. "And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

So our hero in the story, the little drummer boy, comes to the manger:

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,

I like that he is bold enough to strike up a conversation with the new born King. I believe it's an attitude the majority of us share, "You know, I feel comfortable talking to God, but what can I give him? What possibly could I give him?"

I see the conversation continuing and an idea comes:

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

This isn't your typical gift of gold and of frankincense and of myrrh. This is a special gift, a gift straight from the heart. The mother of Christ notices this:

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum

Even the animals are aware. Now, I don't see an ox and lamb swaying back and forth to a drum solo, but rather a deep connection between a little boy and his King. A connection that all of creation has to respect.

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,

This is where I start to get a little drippy. :) In most versions of the song the pa rum pum pum pum's get louder with a big crescendo. God doesn't ask us to be the best, he only asks us to DO OUR BEST. Whether the drum solo sounded as if it came from a world class jazz percussionist or a 2 year old with wooden spoons, pots, and pans; it yields the same result:

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

One of my favorite authors, Brennan Manning, offers a perspective:

A fellow Franciscan once challenged me: 'Do you ever reflect upon the fact that Jesus feels proud of you? Proud that you accepted the faith which he offered you? Proud that you chose him for a friend and Lord? Is proud of you that you haven't given up? Proud that you believe in him enough to try again and again? Proud that you trust that he can help you? Do you ever think that Jesus appreciates you for wanting him, for wanting to say no to so many things that would separate you from him? Do you think that Jesus can ever be grateful to you for pausing to smile, comfort, give to one of his children who have such great need to see a smile, to feel a touch?'

The boy who came to visit Jesus with the Magi, shepherds and angels; who was worried about how he could honor the newborn King really had the "finest" gift after all. Just like the woman who gave her last dollar to the church for the benefit of someone less fortunate, it's doing the best with what you've been given.

No matter what is going on in your life or how you feel about yourself this Christmas season, know that the Child we celebrate is proud of you. He wants you to come see Him so he can smile at you....pa rum pum pum pum...