our musical advent calendar, day 19

Inspired by Pinterest, Anna wanted to do an advent calendar. And inspired by Advent Conspiracy, she wanted to make it about presence, not presents. Ian had a brilliant idea to use music. We each picked out some of our favorite Christmas songs and will be counting down with festive tunes.

day 19. "Little Drummer Boy" - MercyMe, The Christmas Sessions

When Anna and I conceived this little project, we made a ("strict") rule that we would choose only one song from any given album. We're obviously breaking that rule pretty hard.

And that's okay, because what we're finding is that our most favorite songs are from a particular genre and/or artist. Plus, there are more worthwhile Christmas songs to listen to than we can keep track of. Nothing wrong with that, right? Now, for the song...

The Mercyme version of "Little Drummer Boy" makes me tear up. There, I admitted it. Here's why — the concept is simple — even our most taken-for-granted gifts are meaningful. Yours. Mine. Our most elementary abilities, they're more than enough. This is one of God's most poignant points to me this Christmas. Whether it's landscape architecture, music, design, or drumming (the only drumming I do is air), I know that there's nothing that can't be turned into good. "Then, He smiled at me..."

—Ian

Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Shall I play for you?

Shall I play for you?
Mary looked at me and nodded
The ox and lamb kept time
I played my drum for Him
I played my best for Christ
I played my best for Christ

Then He smiled at me.