His Eye Is on the Sparrow

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6-7

Tonight we celebrated my grandmother's life. 

My family arrived at the church in the early afternoon to set up flowers & other memories for those who would come to the memorial service. The small chapel had 116 empty chairs neatly arranged anticipating the friends & loved ones expected to attend. I stood in awe as people poured in the doors of the church & greeted my father & his family. 

The once empty chairs were filled with people sharing stories about Grandma Gina. In her nearly 75 years of life, my grandmother impacted so many people for Christ! The small room was quickly packed to overflowing: chairs were pulled from neighboring rooms and set up as the aisles continued to shrink. The murmur of 200 voices filled the room with words of comfort & delightful memories. Of course, more than a few kindly old ladies hugged us grandchildren and pinched our cheeks.

Then, the service began.

As a Christian, I have always wondered how the unsaved are able to bear the loss of a loved one. What hope do they have of seeing their loved one again? Even if one does not believe in an afterlife what hope of peace is there?

Grandmas service was filled with peace and rejoicing--a conundrum, I'm sure to those who are not believers. People stood up one after another to give a testimony of how Christ was magnified through Grandma's life. I am not a crier (although I find that tears more readily appear in my eyes than they have in years past) but my eye filled with tears as person after person--young and old, male and female, family and friends--gave testimony. Grandma would have been honored to know that the testimony she left behind pointed others to the Person of Christ.

With shaking, sweaty hands, tears in my eyes, and a lump in my throat I stood up to play one last song for Grandma Gina. The selection was an easy one: "His Eye Is on the Sparrow".

What better way to honor Grandma Gina than to play a song on my flute that was a comfort to her: God was always watching & caring for her. Not only was she aware of God's presence in her life, but she was also a living testimony of Christ's love for depraved man.

I can no longer hear her voice humming & singing hymns as she reupholsters furniture in her garage, but time & time again those songs flood my mind & we sing a duet in my head. Why do we sing? The song says it all: I sing because I'm happy; I sing because I'm free! His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

Why should I be discouraged and why should the shadows fall?
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.

Let not your heart be troubled; these tender words I hear;
And resting on his goodness I lose my doubts and fears;
For by the path He leadeth but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted; whenever clouds arise;
When songs give place to sighing; when hope within me dies;
I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.