It was a dreary, rainy morning. Though there was still snow on the ground, it was no longer beautiful and white. Rather it was streaked with brown as it had been melting over several days.

I sat down on my sun porch with a cup of coffee preparing to do my daily Bible study and meditation. Recovering from a sinus infection, I was in a “blah” mood. A familiar clang roused me out of my stupor, and I turned toward my bird feeder, hoping to see a beautiful cardinal. Instead, a platoon of sparrows took turns diving in for breakfast.

Well, I thought, even the birds are drab and gray. Nothing particularly beautiful about them.

As I stood watching the sparrows, I noticed how delicate they were. I also remembered reading about them in the Bible.  Jesus was sending his disciples out on their first missionary trip without him. He no doubt knew they were anxious and worried, and he reassured them:

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.  Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:28-31 NKJ)

Well, I thought, I know very little about sparrows. Since Jesus talked about them and he considered them valuable, what can I learn?

A bit of internet research told me that sparrows are some of the most familiar and most common birds in the world. The term “sparrow” covers a wide range of relatively small, mostly drab brown birds, which birders often call “LBJs” or “little brown jobs” because they are so difficult to identify. In fact, there are dozens of different sparrow species throughout the world—more than 50 of which are found in North America. Sparrows can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Their brown color serves an important purpose as it makes excellent camouflage.

Most sparrow species are relatively small, with sizes ranging from 4-8 inches in length. Amazingly, they weigh only .85 to 1.4 ounces!

As I reflected again on the “fun facts” about “little browns,” I looked at them with new admiration. They could even sing—something I was not very good at. They could fly—I certainly couldn’t do that. They are very adaptable, and they aren’t hard to please. (Sometimes I am.)

They can also be very neighborly. According to The Spruce https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-a-sparrow-387102, sparrows are solitary or found only in pairs or family groups during the spring and summer breeding season. In autumn and winter, however, they will form mixed flocks of different sparrow species, and may even be mixed with some other small birds such as wrens or chickadees. Surprisingly, they sometimes build their nests so that the walls touch a neighbor’s.

 

On a more negative note, however, they are extremely aggressive. They will drive away other species and take over a bird feeder. Considered by many birders to be a pest, there are even articles on how to get rid of them!

In retrospect, their behavior reminds me a great deal of us humans—loud, bullying, territorial on one hand but neighborly and gregarious on the other.

As I walked back on the porch, another tiny sparrow caught my attention. He was sitting in my crepe myrtle bush beside the sun porch singing! How wonderful!

 

I watched in amazement, remembering that this delicate creature weighing slightly more than an ounce, lives, breathes, eats, flies—and sings!

My mind drifted back to Jesus’ statement. Not one of these tiny birds can fall to the ground without his knowing it. That tiny sparrow is precious to the Lord.  He is a part of his wonderful creation. Yet he loves us more! What a wonderful thought!

In the future, instead of desiring only to see the bright and beautiful, I am going to pay special attention to the ordinary sparrow. After all, that’s what I am! An ordinary person with no great beauty or exceptional talent—yet the Lord knows all about me and loves me anyway! He even knows how many hairs are on my head!

A final thought flitted across my mind as I picked up my Daily Bread devotional book: “Would there be sparrows in heaven?” I mused. Then I read the title of the day’s meditation: Heaven’s Love Song – Revelation 5:1-13. As I read verse 13, the Lord gave me my answer!

¹³ And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
belong to the one sitting on the throne
and to the Lamb forever and ever.” Revelation 5:13 NLT

How wonderful to get to heaven and hear sparrows sing along with the people of God! They’ll no longer fear us. We’ll all be part of the same choir! Won’t that be spectacular! Every human and every creature singing to the glory of God! It gives me goosebumps just to imagine the magnificence of such a never ending cantata!

What about you? Any birdwatchers out there? If so, I’d love to hear from you about your thoughts and observations! Merry Christmas!