The Little Drummer Boy

The Little Drummer Boy is one of my favorite songs of the Christmas season. A fun fact about the song is that it was first recorded in 1955 by, none other than, the von Trapp Family Singers (yes, the von Trapp’s from the Sound of Music.) How is that for a great trivia question?!?

As much as I love the song, the story behind it makes it even better. While it is a fictitious story, there are several aspects from the story of the “Little Drummer Boy” that we can all identify with and learn from.

The song opens with the Magi (Wise Men) inviting him to come and see the newborn king.

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum

A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum

We are all called to seek Jesus just like the Dummer Boy did. 2 Chronicles 15:2 “If you seek Him, He will let you find Him.” A day spent without seeking the Lord is lost forever. Thankfully, He waits on us to come to Him.

The magi brought expensive gifts to baby Jesus.

Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum

To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum….

So to honor him, pa rum pum pum pum

When we come.

But, the boy had none to give.

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 our King, pa rum pum pum pum…

The boy came to Jesus in his poverty and identified with Jesus as “a poor boy too.” That is a beautiful connection between him and the King of the universe. We, too, must come to Jesus in our poverty. Yes, we may have some earthly riches, good deeds and try to live the “good Christian” life but we are all inadequate, broken and desperate for a Savior. That is our poverty.

In his poverty, the boy had no gift to bring but he did have a talent to share.

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum…

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum

The ox and the 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…

The boy gave the best of all the he had to the King. Do we do that? Do we give the “first fruits” of our time, talent and treasure to our Savior? God has blessed us and equipped us each uniquely. Do we fully understand our unique gifts? Have we opened the box? It’s there waiting for each of us to discover, to develop and to deploy in serving God and His people.

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum

“He smiled at me.” Wow! All Christians look forward to the day that Jesus smiles at us. We all seek God’s favor.

Instinctively, we believe that He favors us the most when we are “good.” However, it tells us in Romans 3:10-12 There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Our instincts appear to be off base. Have we ever thought instead that the greatest gift that we can give to God is for Him to see us “full of joy” because of His gift to us? This will produce a life filled with joy and gratitude as we serve Him and others.

Pa rum pum pum pum

Me and my drum

Our lives will have a certain “tenor” as we play our own drums. What are others hearing from us - the flavor and message of our lives? We can all learn from the purity and simplicity of the Little Drummer Boy.

Merry Christmas,

Big E