not one sparrow falls
I was grateful to bump into a meaningful reflection "Not One Sparrow" by pastor Robin McMillan of MorningStar Fellowship in Fort Mill, South Carolina. He mentions on his blog Waking Up coming across a small bird alongside the road one morning, and wondering how he had died. He was reminded of the passage close to not one sparrow's heart, Luke 12:6-7, and it's close parallel in Matthew 10:29-31:
Are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave (consent) and notice. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Amplified Bible).
Robin's short devotional on what these passages mean to you and me as God's human children is something I need reminding of myself at the moment, and I hope you get a chance to read it. But here's just part of what he had to say, on the sparrows themselves:
Our Father does not allow even one sparrow to perish whose 'market value' is approx. 1/8th of a cent! That little bird does not die without ... the Father's notice. He doesn't forget even one. ... This is the way Jesus chose to show us how interested and in love with His creation our God is.
(photo copyright Csaba Peterdi/123rf.com)
February 26, 2010
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Reader Comments (6)
How timely this piece. I came home Tuesday late afternoon and as I get out of my car I look over into my grotto like front outdoor room and saw next to the raised flower bed a bundle of white and black fluff. After going in and greeting the cats I went onto the front patio and saw that the fluff was a dead Oregon Junco. We had had a very strong wind storm that day and it occurred to me that the Junco may have been blown out of the cypress tree above. All the same, my heart and spirit was moved to give due respect to this God's creature. So carefully I picked it up and as i held it, I carefully marvelled a the wings and tiny feathers so beautifully arranged and its wing so craftily made. I carried the little one to the east side yard where the bleeding heart perennials are coming up already. I had picked up a trowel on my journey there and prepared a resting place for my little friend. After laying it on some leaves in the small grave, I gave thanks for its' life and that I was privileged to have seen it or its' brethren in my yard, in the trees, on the feeder. Then I covered it gently and put leaves over the grave, giving it back to the Creator. Thank you for this blog...thank you for listening.
Catherine, thanks so much for your note, and for sharing this. What you did for that little junco who died in the storm is such a dignified and compassionate thing. God bless you for it ... Ben
Thank you, Ben, for the reminder of how much God cares for all of His creatures--including us. God is certainly "in love with His creation." An amazing thought! The compassionate way that Catherine cared for the little, dead Junco she found in her yard reminded me of the way Indians handled, in a dignified and respectful way, even the animals they needed to kill for food.
As a 63 year old Christian, a friend of mine and I (and no doubt many others) have literally waited a lifetime to hear a voice for animals from the Chirstian community... This is very very very long overdue... Jesus bless you in this very important work He seems to have called you to do.... It is direly needed.... The Lord created animals with a capacity to suffer... Animals are not a part of the Fall.... This calls for compassion and caring from the Christian community - not the arrogance callousness and exploitiveness I have seen most of my life from the Christian community... Keep on with your important work!
carolinChrist
How wonderfull to find other Christians who have compassion for animals. It shows respect for the Creator and the Creation which is lacking in most churches in America. It is interesting that those who worship the God of Compassion, fail to extend it to "lesser" creatures. The Church would like to lump us in with the pagan earth-worshippers and the far-out loonies and, for many reasons; profit driven, ignorance, and the acceptance of cultural practices without any questioning or reasoning, they are in the wrong.
Worse, this callousness towards animals becomes a major stumbling block when they attempt to introduce others to Christ.
Carol and Doc, thank you both so much for the affirmation and encouragement, it means a lot to me, and it's an honor to know that you are fellow Christians who care deeply for this cause as well. Doc, I couldn't agree more with what you wrote, excellent insight into the dilemma we face in our home context of faith when speaking on behalf of animals - Ben