June 25, 2017           His Eye is on the Sparrow
                                                                                                                                                      “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 10:29-31

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.

                                                                     Civilla D. Martin

          This past week, as I worked on my sermon, I read two wonderful stories connected to the hymn, “His eye is on the Sparrow” and thought I would share them with you.

          The first story is about the author of the hymn, Civilla D. Martin. She wrote this hymn as she was visiting friends, Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle.  Mr. Doolittle was an incurable cripple, who had lived most of his life in a wheel chair. His wife had been bed ridden for some 20 years. Despite this, they were members in their local church, and wrote cards to cheer all who were sick and shut in. Civilla was amazed at their cheerfulness and Christian spirit, despite their afflictions. When Civilla asked Mrs. Doolittle the secret for enduring such hardships with joy, she replied, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.” Inspired by this simple faith, Civilla wrote this great hymn.

          The second story is about Ethel Waters. Ethel Waters was a soloist on the Billy Graham Crusade, and “His Eye is on the Sparrow” became one of her signature pieces. Ethel Waters began life in poverty, and without a father. At thirteen she married an abusive man, who she left, and became a maid in a Philadelphia Hotel. As Ethel recalls, “I was never a child, I never was cuddled or liked or understood by my family.” Throughout her singing career, she was often cheated and treated poorly, until she found the work with the Billy Graham crusade. When it came time to write her autobiography, she testified to the power of this scripture and the power of this song, for the living of her life.

          The readings for this week’s sermon include both the scripture quoted above, and the story of Hagar and Ishmael being cast out into the wilderness. Hagar and Ishmael represent all of us, who are not chosen, not included, not loved, not wanted. They represent all of us who have bad things happen to them, for no good reason. And yet, God’s eye is upon them, God sees them in the midst of their sufferings, and God is there for them.

          So the next time, life doesn’t go your way, the next time you have a burden to heavy to bear, the next time you face trial and trouble in your life remember, “God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know God’s watching me.” And through that faith, God will be there for you as well.