Mother was always busy on Saturdays getting her Sunday School opening service ready. This occurred about the first 20 minutes on Sunday Morning for the whole congregation but especially the children. Afterward, everyone would proceed to their individual classes. She would be highly focused, making posters with art pens and paints or something else to help illustrate the point she wanted to make.
One time she discovered a woman in the church who whistled beautifully and could make lovely bird calls. A plan developed. Next Sunday a soloist would sing the song “His Eye is On the Sparrow,” and the whistler would add beautiful bird sounds above her singing voice. The whistler would be at a microphone back behind the platform out of sight. A ‘sparrow’ created by Mother would be brought in to sit beside the soloist and appear to be the one whistling.
When the time came, Mother explained to the congregation that the sparrow itself was going to be heard from this morning at church. While the soloist would sing, the sparrow would be accompanying her.
Mother covered me in a costume of crepe paper and dressed me up as a sparrow with wings and a bill and everything. I could see out where they cut holes for my eyes. I was perched on a little dolly. Someone pulled me out across the platform beside the soloist. When the whistling behind stage began, I moved my head as if the sparrow itself was doing the whistling.
The children were spellbound. The adults already knew the words to that song and were were smiling at this unusual demonstration. But they were also very moved at this beautiful musical reminder that, yes, our God is the one who sees us and knows us intimately. . . and loves us more than we can really comprehend, and we can rest assured he will take care of us at all times.
People outside of our area noted Mother’s opening services on Sunday mornings, because some years later, she was asked to repeat the sparrow event for the national Sunday School Convention in Springfield, Missouri. Again I was dressed up as the sparrow, and again people responded, as they were reassured that we have a God who sees us, loves us, and watches over us.
A Hymn to Help
This song has helped so many people so many times. It has been sung by the famous Ethel Waters and George Beverly Shea. No doubt it has been hummed in many homes and remembered tearfully through many struggles. It has backing in the scriptures and is stated so beautifully in Matthew 10 and Matthew 6.
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.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Mississippi Children’s Choir link below, singing “His Eye is On the Sparrow.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uatCU8QzdyA
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
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;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Here is a picture of our Mother today.
Elaine is the founder of hymnserve.com. Her website provides downloadable hymn accompaniments for congregations, small groups and individuals.
Hymns That Help 