The Little Drummer Boy in You...

Though she is only two and a half years old, my Little is obviously committed to Jesus.  She regularly refers to Him in her play, and is always excited to receive "blessing water" as we enter and leave the church building on Sundays.  She delights in getting her blessing from the priest at "Communion time."  My Little sleeps now with a Jesus doll, too--I call Him JC.  She hugs JC when she's sad and in need of comfort; and she talks to him to thank Jesus for her blessings when she is happy.  She helps JC give blessings to Panda, Teddy Bear, and Pink the Elephant, often repeating things that the priest says during the Mass.  I encourage these things in her, helping her develop her relationship with and commitment to Jesus at this young age.

In a certain sense, my Little reminds me of the character of the Little Drummer Boy. Though fictional, the Little Drummer Boy depicted in the popular Christmas song and movie is a great example of Christian commitment to the Lord.  Though he is among the least of people, with little in the way of material goods, he still gives of himself by playing his drum for Baby Jesus.  The boy shares the only thing he has to offer; he gives the greatest gift he has.  My Little gives her play to the Lord in a similar way.  It is as moving and inspiring to me as the song and the movie about the Little Drummer Boy--if not more so.

"I played my drum for Him...; I played my best for Him," the song goes.  In offering all that he has to give--his best drumming skills--the boy commits himself wholly to Jesus to the best of his human ability.  Hopefully, in this new year, everyone will be able to practice the humility that the Little Drummer Boy showed.  Hopefully, everyone will be able to share their own personal gifts as the Little Drummer Boy did.  Hopefully, everyone will be able to find the Little Drummer Boy inside himself, and commit himself to the Lord just as completely.