Monday, November 30, 2015

A Gift for the King by Annette M. Irby



drum*

Ah, it’s the Christmas season. Time to bring out the hot apple cider and egg nog. Time to watch your step on the sidewalks as the temperatures plummet in northern climes. And time to bring out the Christmas music. Our family enjoys listening to Pentatonix and their rendition of one of my all-time favorite songs of this season: TheDrummer Boy.

One of the best lyrics is hidden there, near the end of the song.

A poor drummer boy has no gift to carry for a meeting with the King. Others are encouraging him to bring something. He’s ashamed he doesn’t have a gift. The only thing he can offer is a song, or a rhythm, played on his drum. In this lovely fictional story, he asks Mary if she thinks it’d be all right if he just played a song for the Baby using his most prized possession: his drum. She nods, and he plays. Oh, how he plays. He gives Baby Jesus his best, heartfelt offering.

And that’s when it happens. The boy finishes playing. The stable of animals and the Baby’s family fall hushed. The drummer boy sighs. He did it. He gave his best. There’s a deep satisfaction in that, but he waits to see what will happen. How will the Baby respond? What does He do? He smiles at the boy.

When I hear that song, I look beyond the simplicity of this lovely Christmas tale/song and feel the acceptance of God. I feel His pleasure and His affirmation that when I use my talents (writing among them) for Him, when I know it’s all I can truly give (He’s given me everything; I’m only a steward, but what I create with the talents He’s given me is a true offering) and I give it from my heart, He is pleased. And I’m fulfilled.

He smiles at you too.

Write for Him.

Write for His affirmation.

Write for His kingdom.

Write for His smile.

And look up, because I believe it’s already there on His glorious face aimed directly at you. 

~~~~~




Her Nerdy Cowboy
Whoever heard of a bookish cowboy? When Logan McDaniel’s brother-in-law dies, he steps in to help his beloved sister run her ranch. But what does a city boy know of herding cattle? Claire Langley loved her cousin. After he dies, she agrees to serve as a temporary nanny for two heartbroken children. 

Claire and Logan find they share a love of books, and Claire can’t resist the nerdy uncle who is great with children, and who reads to her of pirate romance. Claire’s ailing mother needs her in Seattle. Can she break away? And if she does, can there ever be a future for Logan and her?




 
~~~~~ 

Annette M. Irby


Annette M. Irby has three published books and 
runs her own freelance editing business, AMI Editing
See her page here on Seriously Write for more information.










* Photo credit: freedigitalphotos.net "djembe" by patrisyu
A version of this article first appeared on SW in 12/2011.