For some reason this year Christmas music has really been speaking to me. Lyrics I've heard over and over have become mute to my ears and heart. However, God really captured my emotions one day when the familiar song, "Little Drummer Boy" came on my Pandora Christmas Radio Songs station. I've always dismissed the song, only hearing the prominent "pa rum pum pum pum" segments. But this time, I really heard the lyrics. Actually they went straight to my heart. I'd like to share them with you, minus the "pa rum pum pum pum's."
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.
At the artists' gathering last week, the studio, I had these lyrics for everyone. We read through them quietly and shared anything that stood out. Some stated that they never really noticed the lyrics before and really liked them. Others made note to certain parts of the song, "I have no gift to bring, that's fit for the King." One mentioned the fact that the animals kept time - which brought up a neat thought about how nature participated.
There isn't a line in this song that doesn't speak to me. I can relate to the little drummer boy, as I believe all artists can. I am a poor boy (girl, actually), with no gifts to bring, fit to give a King (Jesus). But all He wants is for us to show up and play our best for Him (or paint our best for Him, draw our best for Him, write our best for Him, or create our best for Him).
Then He smiled at me, me and my drum (or canvas, etc.)
As we head into the last few days before Christmas, remember the words of the "Little Drummer Boy." It has a deep spiritual message for us all. Often we judge our "best" by how the world sees our artwork. But God doesn't see it that way. As an offering for Him, He only expects we show up and do our very best.
Then He smiles at you, you and your art...
Grace & peace,
Merry Christmas,
deAnn
6 comments:
As a one-time church musician turned pastor, and a VISUAL learner in the midst of those audio/verbal disciplines, you have hit the nail on the head (and pierced the heart) of that carol and God's deepest desire for us all. May we all be blessed with the abundance of Christ's peace in bringing what we have been given.
Thank you so much for your comment. Now, "Little Drummer Boy" is one of my very favorite songs and each time I hear it, I sense God assuring me he just wants my best...as simple as it may be. Such as sweet message. Thank you and Merry Christmas! ~ deAnn
Beautiful........
beautiful lyrics, so simple and sweet. thanks deann
Amazing, as I shared this awesome carol with my children tonight in the version of Ezra Jack Keats' book, The Little Drummer Boy. He took the carol (complete with rum pums :) and made it into a visualized text. Hudson and I had a good talk about how sometimes the best gifts are things...Thanks for sharing!
Okay dee, so ever since you posted this, it has been speaking to me and I have been ignoring it, especially the line that says "I played my best for Him", I continously hear that line over and over and then hear, "But have you? Are you playing your best for Him? Are you playing your best for ME?," And the answer is "nope". And with this being said, I have just dusted off my old blog and am reactivating it. So thank you my friend for being attentive and intentional and for sharing...
Love ya!
C
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