Sparrow
You know, there’s a reason why this blog’s theme tune is a song written by Audrey Assad…
The original lyrics for this song were written by Civilla Martin. The sparrow referred to in the song is a reference to Jesus’ teaching recorded in Matthew’s Gospel:
“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?…Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”- Matthew 6:26; 10:29-31
I came across a moving description by the author concerning the song’s inspiration:
“Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them.
One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple: “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”
The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” was the outcome of that experience” – Civilla Martin
Today is my Godson’s birthday so I thought I’d do a little bit of a giveaway to mark the occasion. The prize up for grabs is a signed copy of