Me and My Drum

Something is different about the Christmas Season this year.

Maybe it's the three and a half year old who now completely understands what's going on and is always telling me to turn off the lights in the house so the lights on the Christmas tree can shine brighter.

Maybe it's a clumsy one year old who is a constant moving presence in our living room.

Maybe it's that I've been teaching for 4 years now and finally feel like I'm getting the hang of it.

Maybe it's me.

I recently watched to a video of the a cappella group Pentatonix singing Little Drummer Boy. It was early morning and I was at work, sitting at my desk before all of my students would arrive. And tears started to form.

For the first time, I really listened to the lyrics of this song.

I always knew about the drum; the pa rum pa pum pum. I'd listened to the song as a child, marching in my room playing my imaginary drum.

But I guess I just hadn't ever really listened to the whole thing.

"Little baby, pa rum pa pum pum

I am a poor boy too, pa rum pa pum pum

I have no gift to bring, pa rum pa pum pum

That's fit to give our King, pa rum pa pum pum,

Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum

Shall I play for You, pa rum pa pum pum

On my drum

On my drum"

A boy comes to the Lord; vulnerable, insecure. He's uncertain and unsure. But he has his drum. He takes all he has and he uses it. He plays and makes music for the Lord.

"Mary nodded, pa rum pa pum pum

The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pa pum pum

I played my drum for Him, pa rum pa pum pum,

I played my best for Him, pa rum pa pum pum,

Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pa pum pum

Me and my drum

When we come

Me and my drum"

I've been a bit obsessed lately with this idea of creating art, living art. But the question I keep asking myself is, what is my art? What is my one thing... you know, the thing I am good at, my passion that I want to turn into my day's work.

All along I've been wrapped up in this idea that I have this one specific thing to uncover to give to the Lord.

But my thing is not just one.

As I rock my son before bed and whisper my love to him, I am overcome with it; my drum.

As I encourage my daughter to sing loudly, unafraid of those who will hear her, that is it; my drum.

As my husband and I travel the world and experience new things, raising up two global citizens who aren't afraid to try new things; that is it, my drum.

As I teach my third graders and love on these children who are not my own, as I push them to think beyond what they know; that is it, my drum.

I am playing my drum everyday. This life is my gift to Him.

Me and my drum.

This uncovering is life-giving.

May you, too, uncover your drum this Christmas season and play it with all your might.