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Hard Things
About ten years ago our youth group at church did a missions project in Pensacola. Our fearless leaders Dave Paxton and Jeff Fields decided on a neighborhood and I was asked to help. Our daughter Tiffany was in the 9th grade and I thought it would be a great idea to be part of what they were doing. Our neighborhood of ministry was Pensacola Village. For those of you not familiar with that area, it is a housing project that is wrought with the pain of drugs and violence. There is usually a police car on stand by 24 hours a day there. The days are much safer than the nights. It would be a Monday thru Friday five day club type atmosphere with lunch provided.
Our first day there we watched the kids come in from every direction. They loved the attention. Our youth group numbered about 50 or so, so they could have one on one time with each child. There were a group of older kids from the area who were not happy about us being there. The first day in fact, my daughter was hit in the head by a boy with a slingshot who was quite far away from her. Talk about good aim! That is not what went through my head at that moment though. My first thought was “You Nut”. Tiffany’s head began to swell and she had a large goose egg by the end of the day. I told her that we didn’t have to go back the next day. She didn’t want to give up though so we continued on.
The next day I was working with a group of second graders and of course when I’m outside even with sunglasses, it is very obvious that I have an eye problem. One of the children piped up and asked in a way that was just way too cute…”What beeeeeezz WRONG with your eyes?” I told her that I don’t see very well, so of course her next question was “Can you see me?” I told her yes and she wanted me to prove it by me telling her what she had on. After I passed her test, I told the group that we all have problems. Some we can see like my eyes moving and some are hidden on the inside. She answered “Like ME being sad all the time cuz my Mama gets hit by her boyfriend and my Daddy’s in jail” The whole group then began opening up about their sadness and after talking and praying with them, my heart was full. She became my shadow that week and even though Dave and Jeff may have thought at times we had gotten in over our head with that project, I just want to let them know that it was one of those life changing weeks. The hard things in life usually turn out to be the best learning times.
Friends in Low Places
In the ‘90s Garth Brooks became a household name and his song ‘Friends in Low Places’ was a huge hit. Whether or not you are a country music fan; it was hard not to know part of the lyrics. It was played everywhere. I even have a very close relative whom shall remain nameless who could sing it quite well.
I have many friends in low places at the moment. Thankfully they aren’t “chasing their blues away” with whisky but none the less they are dealing with tough times. Some are fighting cancer and some are watching someone fight cancer. Some just lost loved ones, and some are saying good-bye to loved ones who don’t have much time left. Others are fight to stay afloat financially and several have had to file bankruptcy. A few couples are holding on to their marriage by their fingernails and praying for a miracle to happen in their spouse’s heart.
When I look over my prayer list of friends and family lately, it is a little overwhelming. All of these needs and all of these hurts. How important are all of these people and situations to our Heavenly Father? I read this last night and wanted to share it with you because it gave my comfort to know God loves us and cares for us more that we can imagine. He is in control of it all.
God’s eye is on the Sparrow.
"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your heavenly Parent. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31 (NRSV)
Several years ago I was serving on a Navy ship. We were many miles from land in a foreign ocean far from home. One day I noticed several sailors playing "catch" with an object. When they saw me approach, they tried to hide whatever they were playing with. I asked to see whatever "it" was. It was a sparrow. That little bird had flown miles from home. It had landed on the ship in exhaustion. Cruel and thoughtless sailors tormented the poor creature. They were about to throw it into the ocean to drown.
Reluctantly, the sailors gave me the bird. I took it to the medical department where a tender hearted medic helped me find a box to lay the bird. We lined it with soft cotton, placed water and food near-by and placed the bird in a quiet place to die undisturbed. Some on the ship ridiculed our concern for the tiny creature. But the medic and I understood "in God, all are sacred." Even this little bird was cherished by a tender, loving heavenly Creator. God’s heartbeat is love for all creatures, "great and small."
The sparrow died several hours later. The tender hearted medic approached me shyly with her request. "Could we have a memorial for the bird? Just the two of us? It’s so sad that the bird died." Quietly we went to the back of the ship. I read a burial at sea memorial service from a prayer book. We committed the remains of the little bird to the sea. Several sailors again mocked our compassion. But the medic and I understood God cared and grieved with us in the loss of life. Even little birds are significant to a loving God.
God knew when that little bird was exhausted and unable to return to the safety of its nest. God knew when it was tormented by the sailors. God provided kindness, refuge and a quiet place for the little one to breathe its last breath. God saw, cared and provided for the little bird. One little bird was significant to the Tender One.
We have Jesus’ word for that. Jesus also said, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your dear heavenly Parent feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?" (Mt. 6: 26-27)
Dear reader, we are precious to God. God will take care of us. God’s eye is on the sparrow. God’s eye is on you with tenderness. God’s heartbeat is love. You are cherished, valued, loved beyond understanding just as you are.
