Bring Your Best Drum

October begins tomorrow... so... LET'S TALK CHRISTMAS!

It might not surprise people that I gauge a situation- or season- by the words that are used. I've constructed a whole poem based on the lines of Christmas carols! But as I was ringing out the good tidings, rocking out to Mandisa's Christmas album in the kitchen, a chord stuck out to me. It was the age-old favorite 'Little Drummer Boy'.

There's a lot of debate on who wrote or composed the song, but there's no denying the message of the lyrics. With everyone placing their finest gifts before the baby Jesus, the little drummer boy is unable to give anything... except a steady beat on his drum.

Mandisa's version of the carol plays over the usual words, but she has a few backup singers echoing off of them toward the end. They repeat, 'I'll play my best for you, I'll play my very best for you... on my drum!' Their words emphasize the fact of bringing our best gifts, best presentation, best selfs before the King. In essence, this is the message of 'The Little Drummer Boy'.

This isn't a new concept to realize, but then, neither is the reason for our Christmas cheer. The birth of  Jesus! But it's important to remember that 'best' doesn't mean 'biggest', 'shiniest', or 'greatest'. This drummer boy was presenting his gift of drumming next to the gifts of the Three Kings. We all know what they brought! How is a pa rum pum pum pum supposed to compare with that?

 That's the beauty of it. Our gifts before God aren't about comparison. God smiles for every single one of those gifts presented to Him. Whoever stringed the lyrics together of this beloved Christmas carol understood that pretty well. The size or the grandeur doesn't matter (evidenced in Mark 12:41-44). All that matters is that you gave your best. Because your best (along with your worst) is accepted by our Heavenly Father.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 

There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord."

~1 Corinthians 12:4-5~