Sparrows Fall

By Charlotte Riegel –

A friend was helping us remove a rather large tree stump from our back yard. The tree had died and, prior to its death, had also broken through a fence. My husband was reclaiming some valuable yard space and hankering to repair the broken fence.

While taking a breather, Lois exclaimed, “Oh look, a baby bird has fallen from its nest.” It took a long time until I could find it amongst all the pine cones under the evergreen tree where the nest was secured. The baby bird looked as if it hatched only hours before we saw it squirming for life. It was nearly impossible for us to access it and even if we had, our efforts would have been useless in attempting to preserve its life.

We were reminded of a song learned in Sunday School and encouraged each other to remember the simple truths of this song, by Marcus Tidmarsh, based on Jesus’ words in Matthew 6.

God sees the little sparrow fall, it meets His tender view;
If God so loves the little birds, I know He loves me too.
He loves me too, He loves me too, I know He loves me too.
Because He loves the little things, I know He loves me too.
He paints the lily of the field, Perfumes each lily bell;
If He so loves the little flowers, I know He loves me well.
He loves me too…
God made the little birds and flowers, and all things large and small;
He’ll not forget His little ones, I know He loves them all.

Lois had recently moved to a new province, a new temporary home and completely new circumstances and was still feeling challenged by the upheaval. She felt encouraged by the reminder that God knew all about it and was walking with her into this new life.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:25-27 NIV).