A Story:

One starry night, many years ago, a little restless boy tossed and turned in his bed. He was supposed to be sleeping but sleep had averted him that night. 

Yes, that boy was me. 

I lay there, gazing out the window, having drawn back the curtains, studying the stars as I did every sleepless night. A noise caught my ear and I nearly jumped out of my bed. I heard yelling in the streets. 

People may have still been up, I did not know the hour, but a commotion like that was not heard often. An adventurous boy like me would never let a moment like that pass by without an interest. 

I snuck out of our home, onto the dirt streets. What I saw–no, more of what I heard–blew my young mind far beyond what I could have even imagined. 

I knew this day would come, I just didn’t think I would live to see it. But here I was.

“Come and see!” They shouted. Shepherds, along with their sheep, were running through the town, shouting out, “The Messiah is here! He has come! Born in a stable. In a manger. The Son of Man!” 

I remember that moment. I felt a pounding in my chest. A pounding unlike any exhilaration the little boy in me had ever felt before. This, this was different, I knew. I didn’t know why. I could not explain it. But I knew I needed to know more. 

I never even questioned whether or not these crazy men were right. I knew they were. 

Without taking a moment to think, I rushed inside of my home, I grabbed my small drum, and ran back out to follow the sheep. 

I didn’t have a gift worthy of my King, so the drum would have to do. I thought. I hoped he would like it. 

When I arrived at the stable I realized how meager it was. How dirty it was. The smells of the stable filled my nostrils and even to this day I cannot forget the place where our Savior was born into this world. 

When I heard the cry of the baby my heart leaped in my chest. Tears stung my eyes. I stepped forward past the shepherds and their sheep. They hadn’t known I had followed them, but I didn’t care. 

I looked down at the little boy King. The baby, laying in a manger of hay. His bright eyes seemed to hold a galaxy in them. The same stars I found comfort in at night, reflected back at me in his eyes. As if he knew so much more than a newborn baby should. 

“Little baby,” I said. I looked at his mother. Then I laid my eyes back on the baby. “I am just a poor boy,” I whispered. “I have no gift worthy of a King. But to honor you, may I play my drums for you?” 

Mary and Joseph nodded and I did. I played my drum for Him. I played my best for Him. I played for the boy who would turn this world upside down, changing it forever. He who gave sight to a blind man and made a dead man come alive. He who walked on water, and calmed a raging storm. He who has the most famous name in the whole wide world. He who brought heaven down to earth. He who gave his life for me so that I could spend forever with him. He who redeemed the world and gave us freedom. I played my drum for Him. 

And then…then He smiled at me.

Outro:

I hope that encourages you to go do your best and in everything to glorify Him. My prayer is that when we reach the end of this great story we call life, I can say, I played my drum for Him. I wrote these stories for Him. I sang my song for Him. I did my chores for Him. I served my family for Him. I did my school for Him. I did my best for Him. I gave my everything for Him. I delivered my all for Him.

He changed the world and gave us a reason to hope. Those of us who think we have nothing left to give or nothing left to do, we can know with utter assurance that no matter what He loves us. He cares for us. He says that alone we are not enough, but with Him, He will make us enough. He is our enough. 

So this Christmas season let us remember the reason behind it all. Jesus, our Savior, born in a manger, to save the world. The highest brought to the very lowest. And in honor of this we must do our best for Him and all for His glory. 

And remember, He is smiling at us. 

- Adalyn E. Skains