Sparrows

I was sitting at the computer getting really fed up with its latest trick of switching itself off if I so much as blink. It was causing stress, as it often does. I’m not really a lover of technology although I use it a lot and it certainly causes me more stress than pen and paper ever did. So, there I was getting more and more wound up as the computer refused to restart and was just at the point of yelling upstairs to Colin when I noticed a flock of sparrows land on the lawn. I stopped watching the computer screen and watched the birds instead.

A group of sparrows can be called a flock, a host, a crew, a quarrel, which could be thought of as appropriate when a few get together or, and this is my favourite, a flutter.

I love sparrows. They are found in almost every country in the world, with only few differences to their plumage. Sparrows are all around us. Sparrows are those little brown birds that seem to be everywhere. Ever present. Unimportant. Unimpressive. Unassuming.

Sparrows do not draw attention to themselves. Sparrows are not majestic like eagles with their white tails or golden heads and 6 foot wide wing spans. Nor do they have long elegant legs like egrets or herons. Nor do they soar gracefully in the wind like gulls, or croak noisily like crows. They don’t hover like kestrels or have the impressive face and silent flight of a barn owl.

Here, in my garden I notice the goldfinches because of their colour, the starlings because they are a nuisance, despite being quite good looking in the right light, the pretty little blue tits and wrens, and the other birds that are brightly coloured

One of my bird books describes sparrows as drab little brown birds, easily over looked. I wouldn’t like to hear of myself being described in that way! It’s a good job that God doesn’t look at our outward appearance but what is on the inside.

Luke 12:6-7 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows”.

In the days of Jesus sparrows would be sold in the town market for a penny or two. They were of little value. Yet Jesus said: “Not one sparrow is forgotten by God.” He also said “You are more valuable than sparrows”.

Jesus who knew the mind of God said that all the sparrows through history will be remembered and we are of more value. How wonderful is that? Not one human being is forgotten by God.

God cares about His creation, even the small insignificant things. How much more will He care for us.

We are living in strange times. It isn’t often on a Friday morning that I will sit and watch a Flutter of Sparrows eat a full dish of meal worms (dried as I’m squeamish). It’s not often that I notice they are there.

Maybe this morning God wanted me to remember that I am of value to Him and it doesn’t matter if my hair is too long, or I’ve spilt breakfast on my trousers; God isn’t interested in that. He cares about what is on the inside.

So, lets choose to accept that we are cared for and loved by our Father in Heaven, who made us in His image.

Jane