Sweeter Than the Sparrow’s Song

by Holly Swafford

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? [7] 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

From a little girl, I’ve always been a nature lover. Spring breaks into all its beauty, and I’m finding an excuse to go outside. Last year in May, I was outside in the hammock taking it all in (I think it was the only time I actually found enough time to take advantage of the hammock all year).

Out of nowhere, I heard the strangest sound. It sounded like a droplet of water. Almost like an iPhone notification sound. But I knew it had to be a bird.

So, as any true millennial would, I googled it. Sure enough, it’s the brown-headed cowbird's famous call. I didn’t even know there was such a bird. But now I know, because I’ve heard its beautiful song.

I’ve had a new appreciation for birds' songs since then. A song I heard recently opened a whole new thought process about them. It says “with one single motion, You [God] wrote every bird’s song…” Wow! To think that God cared about the details of our world to the extent that He put music in the heart of each and every songbird, and taught them how to sing it.

I also had been thinking about this verse about the sparrows and how God really, sincerely cares about their well being. And they go on singing just like they know it.

He values us much higher, yet sometimes we fail to keep singing because we forget that we are remembered.

But a sparrow is pretty commonplace. Probably most of us don’t get excited when we see a sparrow. Unless you happen to be a birdwatcher, you probably can’t recognize their songs from other birds.

I love that Jesus chose a sparrow for His illustration. And I think it was for this reason. Nobody thinks about sparrows. Some wouldn’t even say they’re pretty. He could have chosen a hummingbird or a finch or a swan or something at least slightly more interesting. But He sees value in these small speckled brown birds.

So I might have nerded out a bit and done some research. But what I found amazed me! God created 35 different species of sparrows—all with their own distinct songs. They can even use their own creativity to make their own versions of the songs.

Sparrows are also one of the few types of birds that keep singing during a storm. Many birds will get quiet and then sing loudly once the storm calms. Other birds let their song be drowned out, but the sparrow keeps singing because he knows that better weather is coming. God’s watching out for him, so why shouldn’t he keep singing?

We can learn from the sparrow. When the noise of life would drown out your song, keep courage, keep your peace, keep singing, trusting that better weather is on its way!

The storm won’t last forever. You can hold your voice until it’s over, or you can choose to sing in the rain. Perhaps the storm is just an opportunity for your song to be heard.

Another interesting fact is that sparrows sing louder in cities where street noise could prevent their song from being heard. They learn to sing above the ruckus and roar of life.

Life gets loud sometimes. There is so much noise around us that we become overwhelmed. It’s important to not lose our songs during the busyness and distraction of life. Keep on singing. Your voice needs to be heard.

I remember learning this poem when I was in school. It has a convicting truth to it:

Said the Robin to the Sparrow,

"I should really like to know

Why these anxious human beings

Rush about and worry so!"

Said the Sparrow to the Robin,

*Friend, I think that it must be

That they have no heavenly Father

Such as cares for you and me!"

(Overheard in an Orchard by Elizabeth Cheney)

I don’t want to let the sparrows steal my praise! Let us throw aside the cares that would keep us from expressing the joy we have in Jesus.

If God values the sparrows song, then He must value ours that much more. He loves to hear you sing!