He gave us the gift of His Son, Jesus, who was God in Man; who would one day sacrifice Himself to take the sin of the world on His shoulders in a painful death.
That's what Christmas is about. Sure, there are nice things like family, food, presents and Santa Claus, but how can we forget the real meaning? How can we not pass that along to our children?
The presents we exchange? A representation of that 'greatest gift' that the human race was given from a loving God. Santa Claus? A representation of the very spirit of Christmas - of giving.
As I drove in the car with my kids on the way to their Nana's the other day, we listened to the Christmas classic, 'The Little Drummer Boy'. I had sung this song many times in past Christmases, but never had I really listened to the words. REALLY listened.
And God gave me those words and such a lesson along with them that tears streamed down my face as I drove.
The Little Drummer Boy
Come, they told me (par rum pa pum pum)
A new born King to see
Our finest gifts we bring
To lay before the King
So to honour him
When we come
Baby Jesus
I am a poor boy too
I have no gift to bring
That's fit to bring a King
Shall I play for you,
On my drum?
Mary nodded,
The ox and lamb kept time
I played my drum for Him
I played my best for Him
Then He smiled at me
Me and my drum.
In this song, a little boy comes to celebrate the birth of the newborn King, Jesus. He knows this is a very important baby, and he has been told that we should bring our finest gifts to the king. Does that mean jewels, fragrances like the Wise Men gave Him?
I don't believe so.
This little boy was a poor little drummer boy. He did not have fine gold and silver to bring Jesus.
All he had was himself and his drum.
And so he played. He played his very best for Jesus. He gave the King every part of him and his music in a beautiful act of worship.
And baby Jesus smiled. He loved it.
And so it is still with Jesus. He doesn't want your fine jewels. He doesn't want your money, or your house, or your job. He wants simply YOU. He wants your heart. Just you. The most basic of gifts, yet the hardest to give.
And so as we celebrate Christmas with our families, as we sing Christmas carols, as we exchange gifts, please consider the greatest gift of the Season - and the very reason for Christmas in the beginning - the birth of a baby boy in the most humblest of scenes - among animals in a feed box. And yet He was the King of the Jews, the very most important baby born in this world EVER.
And yet, the only gift He requires is your heart.
May you give your heart to Him this Christmas, and He will give you the most wonderful of gifts in return - life everlasting.
Merry Christmas
I know that this year Christmas for me will not just be about giving presents, but it will be about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and its all down to you and little Seb that i now know the true meaning of Christmas, i read my children the real story of Christmas the other day and even though they cant wait to get their gifts they know its all about the birth of Jesus!
ReplyDeleteThat's so precious, isn't it honey. Kids will still be kids though and think about presents, won't they!! But if we can try to remind them that we give gifts because of Jesus, then that's a good start!! Sometimes we do a 'birthday cake' for Jesus too. Bless you honey xx
ReplyDeletexoxo
ReplyDeleteNat, I LOVE this post... LOVE it! Last year was the first time the Little Drummer Boy's words stood out to me... it was as if I never heard them before and today - well, you just said it all perfectly. thank you for this reminder. ♥
ReplyDeleteHow amazing is that!! That for our first Christmas' without our little darlings, God gave us both this precious gift of his Love. Love you darling xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words Nat x
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