I am that Little Drummer Girl

When there are many people about, doing this or that, busy, busy, busy; I sit and watch them in wonder at their productivity.  I seem to only be able to do things at a slower pace, perhaps some would call it a snails pace, but there you have it.  I think we all have a pace, and some of us are very efficient, multi-taskers; capable of accomplishing much in little time.  But others of us keep a slower pace;  reflective, watchful, observant.  Both are needed, neither could function without the other.  Like a marriage, we learn to speed up or slow down to keep in step, in harmony, with each other, accomplishing more together then we ever could alone.

Every now and again, I make the mistake of comparing myself to these super-productive types.  I measure my little with their much.  I end up feeling quite inadequate, ill-equipped for the work that lay before me.  I become discouraged, disheartened, like I ought to stop offering my widow’s mite portion, in the midst of the obvious talents and gifts of those around me.  But then I remember that I can only give from what I have been given.  I can only offer what has been offered to me.

During this Precious and Beautiful Christmas Season, everyone is singing carols, giving gifts, decorating the world with lights in Celebration of the One True Light that came down out of Heaven. He came silently, as a Babe born of humble means, laid in a trough for animals, like a homeless child.  And I reflect on the words of some favorite Christmas Songs.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining, 

‘Til He appeared and the Soul felt its worth

I, along with that world, once lay dormant, trapped, caught in a whirlwind of sin and  shame, destined to do that same old dance, over and over again.

I have no gifts to bring…to lay before My King. 

I’ll play my drum for Him…I’ll play my best for Him.

I am that Little Drummer Girl.  All I can do is bring what I have, forget about what I don’t have to offer Him, and just sing my Heart out for Him alone. To sing and To write the words He places in me, through His own Spirit.  To remain silent on the subject of my own inadequacies.  For You see, He has told me that when I am weak, then I am strong.  Jesus has revealed to me that I am one of those base things of the world  that will shame the wise.  For I am nothing apart from Him, and I can do nothing apart from Him.  But in Him and through Him and to Him, I am all I ever need to be, I have all I ever need to give.

To those who have received a faith of the same ^[b]kind as ours, ^[c]by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: ² Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; ³ seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us ^[d]by His own glory and ^[e]excellence.  (2 Peter 1:1-3)

And so I come to You, My Gracious King Jesus, and I give to You what little I have, my five loaves and two fish.  Make of them what You will.  I rest in peace, knowing that  it is not my call to make something of myself. It is my call to give You myself, so that You can make something of me.  From You, through You. and to You, be all the Glory.