“29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31 ESV)
Three (3) weeks ago my 83-year old brother-in-law who lives with his family in a suburban town north of Manila tested positive for Covid 19.
Previously he had been losing his appetite, been lethargic and been staying in bed most of the time. His initial diagnosis as an outpatient was pneumonia but when he was admitted to the hospital the swab test showed he was positive for Covid 19.
My sister’s entire household was stressed. They self-quarantined, wore face masks while inside the house, segregated dining ware, etc. They contacted the pastor of their home Lutheran Church and church members have joined in prayer for him and his family.
Each day when I take my routine morning walk around the village I hear birds chirping as they flit from tree to tree, perhaps in their own routine of searching for breakfast. As I think about my brother-in-law and his family and hear the birds I am reminded of Jesus as He talked about God caring for the birds and their needs.
– “26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt. 6:26 ESV)
The lyrics of the hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” (music by Charles H. Gabriel) were written by Civilla D. Martin. She and her husband met and befriended a couple whose situation seemed almost hopeless. The wife was bed-ridden for more than 20 years; the husband had to go to work each day using a wheel chair. And yet their joy and hope have inspired people who knew them. When Civilla asked them what their secret was the wife answered, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”
As of this writing my brother-in-law has been discharged from the hospital and returned home. God had been at work as the doctors, nurses and medicines did their job of attending to him. But he is not out of the woods yet. He still has to fully recover and regain his strength.
With all the health and economic challenges that the pandemic has brought we may feel overwhelmed and forget that God knows what we are going through. But through our faith in Christ and His sacrifice on the cross God has made us His children. Therefore with God watching over us we can face the uncertain future with hope.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for loving us and caring even for the details of our lives. Lead us as we walk through these days of uncertainty. In Christ’s Name. Amen.
Photo by Dipankar Gogoi on Unsplash