The Little Drummer Girl

It was originally known as The Carol of the Drum.
Katherine Kennicott Davis wrote it in 1941.
We know this song as The Little Drummer Boy.

The song has been recorded many times through the years.
First recorded in 1955 by the Trapp Family Singers of Sound of Music fame.
The song tells the story of a poor boy who comes to see Baby Jesus.

He had no gift to give the infant King.
Nothing fine that could match the gifts of the Magi.
He had only one thing that he could give.

He had his drum.
The little boy played his drum for the King.
The little boy gave the gift of himself.

I saw this song lived out at church today.

The choir was in front ready to sing.
The pianist sat at the grand piano.
The woman who plays the drums walked forward with her little daughter next to her.

A precious little five-year-old girl sat down next to her mom.
She was holding something in her hand.
Our eyes met and she gave me a five-year-old smile that melted my heart.

The song began, Christmas Is Coming.
Some of the choir members had bells in their hands.
Hand bells and voices, piano and drums.

Suddenly, the little girl lifted the object from her lap.
A wood block and stick.
She masterfully played her wood block, not missing a beat through the whole song.

It was a difficult song, though not in her hands.
The primitive wood block and stick seemed to sing along with the voices.
The smile on her face was contagious.

Occasionally, she would look over at her mother sitting next to her.
Mostly, she was looking at Something else.
Something that was giving her so much joy.

As I watched she seemed to transform before me.
I saw The Little Drummer Girl.

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum,
A newborn 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.

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,
To lay before the king, pa rum pum pum pum,
Rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

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

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

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

We all received a gift today.
We saw innocence personified.
We witnessed a gift to the King.
A gift from the Little Drummer Girl.

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19,20)

What better gift could you give to Him than the gift He gave to you?
It is not re-gifting!
It is worship!

It is knowing that nothing store bought can ever compare.
It is every ounce of self drifting away.
It is giving and not caring what other people may say as to the nature of your gift.

It is giving, no hold barred, to the One who held nothing back from you.
It is innocent and simple and all together priceless.
It is the best kind of gift.

It is looking at Someone else and giving Him the best you have.
It is a gift that can easily be missed or passed over by eyes that cannot see.

It is a gift from the Giver.
It makes Him smile.