Benny, the Little Drummer Boy

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I think there’s another little-known but much-loved character I’d be in the Nativity story. It’s the little drummer boy. Did you know he has a back story in some forgotten text that is even more ancient than the Da Vinci code?

A little drummer named Benny lived in a sleepy village near Bethlehem. Benny didn’t have much of a home life. The locals said his parents were nearly driven crazy by his constant drumming and announcing his arrival at each meal, saying, “Come, they told me.” The boy was known for his odd sentence structure. Doctors later diagnosed him with having something called “Yoda-ism,” a condition that wouldn’t be fully understood until 1982.

Benny wasn’t your ordinary drummer boy; he was an aspiring musician with big dreams and even more giant drumsticks. His heart thumped with rhythm, and his dreams were filled with melodies. Benny’s neighbors often complained about the incessant banging coming from his house, but Benny couldn’t help himself.

One starry night, as the news of Mary and Joseph’s impending arrival reached the village, Benny couldn’t contain his excitement. “This is it!” he thought. “My big break! I’ll play my drum for the newborn King!”

As the fateful evening approached, Benny meticulously tuned his drum, making sure it was in perfect harmony with the angels’ heavenly chorus. He practiced his paradiddles and rolls until the moon hung high in the sky. But Benny had no idea that Mary and Joseph weren’t exactly looking forward to his performance.

The night finally arrived, and Benny marched to the stable where the holy birth occurred. Mary was exhausted, and Joseph was frantically searching for a midwife who could help with the birth. Benny, oblivious to their predicament, began a thunderous drumroll.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Mary and Joseph exchanged annoyed glances. The drumming echoed in the small stable, and the animals started getting agitated. Benny caught up in his rhythm and continued to play with gusto.

“Who on Earth is making all that noise?” Joseph grumbled.

“I have no idea, but whoever it is, I will give them a piece of my mind!” Mary replied, her patience wearing thin. Ruler #1: never irritate a new mother.

Just as Mary was about to send Joseph to deal with the noisy interloper, a miraculous thing happened. The animals were one thing; the ceaseless drum banging was something else altogether. Baby Jesus, who had just been born, opened his eyes and looked straight at Benny. And then, to everyone’s astonishment, the baby began to smile.

Benny, noticing the divine approval from the infant Messiah, stopped playing his drum and rushed to the baby’s side. “He likes it! He likes it!” Benny exclaimed, tears of joy streaming down his face.

Mary and Joseph, who had been moments away from scolding Benny, couldn’t help but be touched by the baby’s reaction. They exchanged surprised glances and then smiled at Benny.

“Maybe you could play something quieter, dear,” Mary suggested gently.

Beaming with delight, Benny nodded and began playing a soft, soothing lullaby on his drum. The animals in the stable agitated just moments ago, settled down peacefully. Even the heavenly chorus of angels above harmonized with Benny’s gentle beat, creating a truly magical moment.

From that day on, Benny became a cherished part of the Holy Family. They tolerated him speaking like Yoda. He didn’t just bring rhythm to their lives but also love, joy, and laughter. As he played his drum softly, Baby Jesus would coo and smile, filling the hearts of everyone present with warmth and happiness.

And so, the little drummer boy who once annoyed Mary and Joseph with his boisterous drumming had found his place in the most extraordinary of families, bringing music and merriment to the birth of the newborn King.

The Rev. Richard Bryant is an elder in the North Carolina Annual Conference. This post is republished fro his blog, Richard's Food for Thought.