Not long after Halloween, a local radio station started cranking out Christmas music. At first I was annoyed. But when the host of the program asked listeners to name their favorite carols, he got me thinking: Which piece of music best expresses the real heart of Christmas?

If you ask me on a bad day — when I'm driving from one errand to the next and still have a stack of Christmas cards to write — I'll probably tell you that "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" does the best job of capturing the sheer lunacy that Christmas inspires in some people.  

But when I'm softened by the true spirit of the season, "The Little Drummer Boy" immediately comes to mind. The tune never fails to tug on my cynical heartstrings, while the lyrics turn holiday greed on its ear.

To recap, "The Little Drummer Boy" tells the story of a boy who cannot afford a gift for the Christ Child. So, with the Virgin Mary's nod of approval, he plays his drum. 

Researching the carol's history, I learned it was derived from an old Czech folk tune called "The Carol of the Drum." (The Czech lyrics were probably inspired by a 12th century legend, "The Juggler of Notre Dame," in which a penniless juggler performs before a statue of the Virgin Mary.) Katherine K. Davis translated the song to English in 1941, and later wrote the words and music for "The Little Drummer Boy" with Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone. The Harry Simeone Chorale recorded the best-known version in 1958, and it remained a Top 40 hit in the U.S. for the next five years. Since then, everyone from Bing Crosby to Bob Seger has recorded it.

An overly sensitive kid, I remember fighting tears when I first heard the song in grade school. I was moved by the courage it took for the "poor boy" to honor Jesus with a drum solo — a highly personal gift that no one else could duplicate.

It's a story we'd do well to remember every day of the year. But it's all too easy to forget — especially in a season when merchants and advertisers do everything in their power to convince us that a gift is something to purchase. Look around the malls this week and you'll see their efforts at work. After watching so many holiday commercials on TV, most Americans who celebrate Christmas are buying their way into the hearts of loved ones. Shopping has become an act of devotion.

Gifts you can't buy at the mall

It's my opinion that the three traveling wise guys who brought the gold, frankincense and myrrh to the Christ Child should be held responsible for making materialists of us all at Christmastime. I realize their intentions were good.  But the messiah they were gifting ultimately grew up to teach us that giving the best of ourselves is the most authentic way to show our love. It's not about the stuff.

While I was working on this column last week, Royal Oak resident Richard Pressel shared the following quote from Oren Arnold, which perfectly sums up the core of the message: "Christmas gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect."

In retrospect, I wish I'd given my younger relatives the gift of my time and attention rather than toys or random gift certificates. They would have enjoyed, for instance, an I.O.U. for an afternoon at the circus or a ballgame, or help with homework. And I wish I'd discovered earlier that my best friends appreciate small pieces of my artwork more than store-bought trinkets or costume jewelry.

All said and done, each one of us has a special skill or talent, whether it's baking shortbread or composing music or fixing computers. It's not for us to judge whether our gift is great or small. Or to worry about its monetary value. It is our birthright to share it with others.

The little drummer boy got it. He remembered the reason for shining his own light and giving from the heart. And when I finally push past the holiday hype and the nagging sense that I'm missing the mark, I remember it too.

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Cindy La Ferle's award-winning story collection, Writing Home, is available on Amazon.com. Proceeds from the sales of new copies will be donated to the Welcome Inn day shelter in Royal Oak this holiday season. For more information, visit Cindy La Ferle's Home Office.