[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ometimes we are sad when we don’t have something special to give someone we love. Especially at Christmas time when all the people around us seem to be able to wrap up a special present. It is a good thing to give gifts, and it can make us feel happy, but sometimes we don’t understand what makes the best gift of all.
The story of the drummer boy is not about a boy in history or something that really happened, but it is about something that is true. We call these stories “parables”, and they teach us something important to think about.
Here is the simple story of a little boy who wanted to give something special to the new baby Jesus.
The Drummer Boy
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here was a little boy who lived a long time ago who could play the drum. He delighted people with his pa-rum-pum-pum, rhythmic tapping on the drum his father had lovingly made him (not at first, of course, but he became very good with lots of practice).
As he sat in front of his house on an afternoon, there was lots of excitement as stories were passed from person to person about a little baby child and the message of angels in the sky, and how important that must make this birth. All of a sudden all the drummer boy could think of was a visit to that stable and to give something special to this wonderful person who had angels singing about him.
The trouble was that he was very poor. There was his drum of course, but it had become worn and dirty, and anyway, little newborn babies can’t do much with a drum! Thinking hard, the boy was starting to feel very sad because there seemed to be nothing to give and he just couldn’t go empty handed!
Suddenly as he was thinking and almost ready to give up making his journey to welcome the new little Savior, he thought of how happy his playing had made the children in his neighborhood, how proud his parents had been when he played for his aunt’s wedding… and how happy he was when tapping out his beats to songs he knew.
He decided to take his drum and give what he could of his talents in honor of the baby that everyone was buzzing about. And so he did.
As the drummer boy played his very best in softest tones and pleasing rhythms… the baby smiled the sweetest ,most beautiful smile! The gift was received and the drummer boy never forgot that giving the best of himself is sometimes the best gift to give.
Big People Section
[dropcap]H[/dropcap]ave you learned to replace the most important gift, that of yourself and your love and attention, with substitutes? Or have you told yourself that giving isn’t nearly as important as what you get? That others should honor you, love you, forgive you, before you will think of what you will give to them?
Do you think God is special enough to give Him what He wants for Christmas? What does God want from you? The Drummer boy story attempts to illustrate what God values.
What gifts have you already received? Health, provision, loving family and friends, ability to work, freedom…. there are many simple things in life that we take for granted and overlook until they are missing. We have talents and time, wisdom and insights, things we can make, things we can do, and all those might be the most important gift we can give to someone special…. including our Savior.
