Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a story about an old Gospel song.
Civilla Martin wrote “His Eye is on the Sparrow” and I was reading the other day her journal entry in which she described what inspired her.
This is what she wrote. She says, “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 they were. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh 20 years. Her husband was an incurable cripple..." (I wouldn’t say it that way, but remember this was back in 1905.) "Anyway, Mr. Doolittle had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheelchair. 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. She said: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of that simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired my imagination, writes Civilla. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience.”
And, so she wrote: “Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home when Jesus is my portion, my constant friend is he. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me. I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me”. Of course, for well over 100 years, people have been singing that song “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” It was a favorite song for me when many years ago I was bedridden for almost a full summer, trying to heal a stubborn pressure sore. My husband Ken and I were newlyweds at that time, and he tried hard to keep my spirits bright. One of the things he did was to hang a birdfeeder right outside our bedroom window – within days, I had all sorts of feathered friends visiting the feeder, and man that really lifted my spirits. In fact, I remember right after Ken hung the feeder, he pulled up a chair by my bedside, opened his Bible (this was incredible for a newlywed) and read to me from Matthew chapter 10 where Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Wow!
That’s something to ponder this Thanksgiving week. So whether from your desk top or your smartphone visit my radio page today at joniandfriends.org and share this with your Facebook friends. While you’re on my radio page, don’t forget to download your copy of my gratitude journal, a 7-day journey of writing down (oh, that’s so important) all the many blessings God has given you. It’s all there for you at joniandfriends.org. Oh, and one more thing: when we serve the needy we also please God. It’s why I want you to go over to my radio page today at joniandfriends.org and ask for our Joni and Friends Newsletter. It’s filled with opportunities for you to serve people with disabilities in the name of Jesus.
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