Noticing the "Drums" in Our Lives

I have a little confession to make.  I love Christmas music.  I love the way it sounds, I love the messages and I love the peace.  My favorite song is "The Little Drummer Boy" followed closely by "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer." (What a funny song!)

Usually I wait until Thanksgiving afternoon to give into my love of holiday music.  I have a play list which lasts almost all day without repeats so I turn it on after turkey and let it go until bedtime.  I love it.

This year I saw the sales ad at one of my favorite bookstores in late October.  There was a Christmas lullaby CD on sale among the other things I just HAD to have.  I was particularly stressed that morning so I popped it into the CD player in the car and have been listening to it since.

Yes, you heard me correctly, I started listening to Christmas music in October this year.  Now before you roll your eyes too much I would like to note my kids love the soft music and don't fight as much in the backseat, so I must be doing something right.

As I was listening to the soothing lullaby music I realized once again why I like the song, "The Little Drummer Boy."  The entire song is about bringing what you have to the table.  Whatever you have to offer will be enough.

If you expand this idea to life then it can be quite profound.  How many times have you helped a friend?  Maybe you didn't save the world, you were just there when they needed you.  How many times have your kids needed a last minute project finished and your talents helped get them to the finish line?  Those are definitely examples of playing your "drum."

One of the interesting things about the message is the gift was not required.  The value of the gift was in the lesson learned by the drummer boy.  It was his humility and desire to honor the recipient which was important.  He did not bring anything expensive or flashy, he brought his talent.

So I want you to think about the talents you have.  What do you do for others on a regular basis?  How has your willingness to share your abilities helped others?  What "drum" do you carry around?

I want you to think about the "drums" of others.  What talents do your friends and family have?  How have they humbly used those talents to help you and others around them?

Now it is story time.  I have a friend who is wonderful.  She is talented, she is smart and she has an amazing ability to accomplish lots of things while being a great mom.  If you only knew how many cool projects her kids get to do you would want to move in with her right now.  On top of all of her great talents she has a very kind heart.  She keeps in touch with many friends and seems to always be there for them.  Now before you start to gag and wonder how June Cleaver landed in the 21st century I want you to know she isn't perfect.  (Her cooking may be out of this world, but she is not perfect.) She jokes about her temper (not to bad as far as I have seen), she mocks her ability to be girly (this is funny as she has two very girly daughters), and she laments her inability to sew like her grandmother (you have to see the costumes she makes for Halloween).

So now for the real story.  Years ago I was pregnant and was very smell sensitive.  Somehow my kitchen became a disaster.  (I say somehow so you won't know it is a disaster almost all the time.)  The hard part was I was hungry, very hungry, and I couldn't get near the kitchen because of the dishes smell.  Every time I got close I would start to gag.  After thinking about it I didn't have what I was craving anyway.  I was talking to my friend and she got in the car, went to the store, bought what I wanted, stopped by my house and fed me.  She then cleaned my kitchen.

This small act was not enough to solve world hunger or find a cure for cancer, but it was important to me.  I needed that food to eat and the smell to be gone more than anything else at that moment.  I still am appreciative years later.  I needed her and her "drum" at that moment in time.

So this almost holiday season I challenge you to look around at the "drums" in your life.  Notice the small acts which come from the heart.  Give yourself credit for bringing your best, even if it is a small offering.  Appreciate those around you who do what they can to help and honor others.

It should make for a wonderful holiday. pa rum pa pum pum