Back in October I heard the familiar sound, far across the way, the tap-tap tapping of the drum corps in perfect synchronization as they marched onto the football field of a local high school.  It brought back fond memories of my own little drummer boy who grew up to become a percussionist.  He can still handle a mean pair of sticks.

While Scripture does not record an appearance of a drummer who shows up at Jesus birth, I think there is truth conveyed in the song, Little Drummer Boy.

In a variation done by Prestonwood Baptist Church Choir, a child sings, “I’ll play for you,” and the choir echoes the same promise.  The phrase holds meaning for me, perhaps because I am a musician who spent many years in service to the Lord by giving the gift I’d been given and playing for Him. It gets even better since I married a musician, birthed a musician, and now have the privilege of teaching others to be musicians.

But one does not have to be a musician or a singer or in a marching band to find meaning in the phrase, “I’ll play for you.”

When God called Moses to lead the Israelites our the bondage of Egypt, He asked him, “What is that in your hand?”  To which Moses acknowledged it was only a rod, a staff, a piece of wood.  Nothing special or unusual.  Until it was put into the service of the Lord, and it became the rod of God.

What is in your hand today?  Culinary expertise?  Organizational skills?  A patient listening ear?  An ability to explain the difficult so even the simple can understand?  Do you teach, help, pray, give from your resources, show mercy?  Do you clean up other peoples’ messes?  Do you have patience to work with children or the mentally and physically challenged?  Can you lead a group of people?  Are you nurturing little ones in your home? Caring for an elderly relative?

The thing that is in your hand is the instrument on which you can play for the King.  It is your gift.

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.

No matter what “drum” you are playing for the Savior this Christmas season, play it loud.  Play it clear.  Play it so all the world will hear.  Christ the Lord is born!  And He is worthy of what we offer.

And so we honor Him.  Then He smiles at us.

A revised post from 2011