His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Yesterday my daughter and I went to the park. It was just one of those days where you absolutely must go outside or you would burst. The weather was perfect and you could feel Spring on your skin.

While we were there, we enjoyed the birds and giggled a lot. Something about sunshine and songbirds makes you giggle.

It began to get dark and we started walking back to the car (a long trek at this park). As we made our way back we happened upon an area where some teenagers had enjoyed a picnic. And left their cans and garbage behind.

We still had a long way to walk and were without any type of bag. Still, my daughter insisted that we pick up every single can and scrap of plastic strewn about this area of the park. She was worried about the birds and the animals getting caught in some of the plastic or being harmed by the garbage left behind.

Our arms were full and may I say- I wound up with drips of Dr. Pepper, Mt. Dew, and beer (yuck) all down my t-shirt. We gathered an empty box of Girl Scout cookies, too. The Girl Scouts would have been disappointed.

Two cans were left. There was absolutely no way we could gather them in our already full arms. (I made sure my daughter did not carry any beer cans. I had all of the really disgusting trash.)

My daughter began to cry,"What about the birds? Mommy, can't we come back? Can't we walk to the trash can and come back and get these cans, too?"

"No, we can't, Sweetie. It is getting dark. We are the only ones here and it just isn't safe for a Mommy and her little girl to be out here alone," I said, my heart breaking at the sight of her tears.

She continued to cry as we walked back to our car, loaded down with someone else's trash.

I turned to her and said,"We just have to pray that God will send someone else to pick up those cans, too. He sent you here. He loves that you care about His Earth and the animals. He is smiling right now. He will take care of it."

My words seemed to comfort her and we kept walking, the sun quickly sliding down behind the horizon. As we walked along, we found an empty box someone had left behind. We put all of the trash we had gathered in the box and continued on, reaching the trash can and our car.

When we got in the car, after some serious Purell sanitizing, I shared with her how I have learned to trust God. When I am overwhelmed and think that I have to be the one to save the world, I have to remind myself that God has a whole army of Christians working for Him. Many times in my life, I have worked on a project or struggled to help someone and I've tried to do it all by myself. It is so frustrating to feel like you are working alone. When I have faith and give it all to God, I am so comforted knowing that He is in control and He will prevail.

"Just say a prayer and He will take care of it," I said.

"I already did, Mommy," she answered from the back seat.

We drove home and I suddenly realized that I need to literally practice what I preach. I have had so many things weighing heavy on my heart lately. I have allowed doubt to fill the space where faith should dwell. Right then, I said a silent prayer, asking God to "take care of it."

This morning I received an email letting me know that God had indeed "taken care of it."

My first thought was about the birds- the sparrows that He loves. He cares for them. Surely, He will care for me, His Child. I am reminded that I am worth more to Him than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

Thank you, God, for taking care of me and for providing all my needs. I just want to take this moment to praise You.

Psalms 84

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.

With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest

and raises her young at a place near your altar,

O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!
What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises.
What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord,

who have set their minds
on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,

it will become a place of refreshing springs.

The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings.
They will continue to grow stronger,

and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem.
O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, hear my prayer.
Listen, O God of Jacob.
O God, look with favor upon the king, our shield!

Show favor to the one you have anointed.
A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!

I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God

than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.
The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you."