December 18 Advent thoughts
May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to Him. May the Kings of Sheba and Seba present Him gifts. May all kings bow down to Him an all nations serve Him. Psalm 72:9-10
One of the opening scenes of the Jim Cary 2000 version ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ shows all the Who’s in Whoville madly dashing around buying presents. Didn’t matter how much, but everyone got something and someone got everything. But is that the ‘spirit of the gift of Christmas’? Well, the Psalmist prophesies about the kings and princes giving gifts and paying homage. It’s in the Bible, so I guess it’s expected. So we stress over it, worry ourselves into an ulcer, get in fights at the store, overextend our bank accounts. The old adage ’tis better to give than receive’ we tell ourselves. But at what expense? (And honestly, who doesn’t like to get a present?) And that’s what God did. He gave a gift-His son. For one purpose-so that we might live. Fat chance we could match that gift, including gold ,frankincense and myrrh. We have been given a gift and we cannot give one in return. That goes against our nature. But maybe that is a lesson we need to take to heart. When we give out of love, we don’t do it expecting anything in return. God knew we had nothing we could give Him-He made and owns everything anyway. So instead, let us come to the manger, hat in hand, not to ask or beseech or even with anything to give in return. Just in awe and wonder at this gift, given out of so much love we could never return it.
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 our King pa rum pum pum pum
Shall I play for you! pa rum pum pum on my drum.
Mary nodded pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him pa rum pum pum
I played my best for Him pa rum pum pum pum
Then He smiled at me pa rum pum pum pum
me and my drum.
-Carol of the Drum, written by Katherine Kennicott Davis, 1941