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WARNING! This version of the song may cause one to break out singing or dancing!
Imagine becoming the victim of an incurable condition; crippled for the rest of your life, only able to move about confined to a wheelchair. Then imagine your spouse being bedridden for nearly twenty years. Such describes the physical state of a certain Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle of Elmira, New York circa 1905.
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
However, the Doolittle’s demeanor was not what one might expect. This was the surprising conclusion of a married couple that had become deep friends with them while staying in Elmira.
These friends could not help but observe how cheerful were the Doolittle’s. They noticed that “despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives!” They referred to the Doolittle’s as “true saints of God.”
Walter and Civilla Martin were the deep friends of the Doolittle’s. Walter was especially impressed with their attitude in the face of such discouraging circumstances. He asked them what was the “secret of their bright hopefulness?”
Mrs. Doolittle’s reply was simple. “His eye is on the sparrow,” she said. “And I know He watches me!”
She was referring to what Jesus had told his disciples. “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will… [“not one of them is forgotten by God,” Luke. 12:6] Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew. 10:29, 31).
Civilla later said that “the beauty of this simple expression… gripped their hearts.” The outcome of that experience became the hymn ‘His Eye Is on the Sparrow.’ The day after Civilla wrote the poem, she sent it off to Charles Gabriel, a well-known composer of gospel songs, who set it to music.
There would probably never have been such a song if not for the Doolittle’s. Their faith transcended their circumstances. They chose to be happy – joyous – even in the midst of great hardships. What difficulties they must have faced day after day! What fears they must have overcome through prayer and the power of God’s Word!
Driven from home and alone in the wilderness, the angel of the Lord appeared to Hagar, Sarai's Egyptian maid. Hagar was instructed what to do and told that the Lord had given heed to her affliction. Hagar then replied, "You are a God who sees!" [El-Roi] (Genesis 16). The Bible says that “the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Armed with such assurances throughout the Scriptures, shouldn’t we adopt the same attitude? But would anyone who knew us up close and personal, ever be prompted to ask us the secret of our bright hopefulness?
In the winter of discontent that is prevalent among so many; in the midst of cold days, long nights and hardened hearts – such bright hopefulness shines as a beacon. And even if no-one else sees, God does!
In the darkness of a dungeon, unjustly beaten, imprisoned and surrounded by walls impossible to escape, once there was the sound of Paul and Silas singing! And even if no-one else heard, God did!
Our Lord heard Paul and Silas singing and He strongly supported those men of faith (Acts 16:16-40)! And I am convinced God heard the prayers of a sickly, aging couple in Elmira, New York. He sent a poet their way!
Even today, over a hundred years later, if there is anyone cheerful and who wants to sing praises (James 5:13), these words of Mrs. Doolittle and Civilla Martin echo across the years! They render the melody of the heart into a beautiful song unto the LORD:
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.
Praise God for sparrows! Commonplace, unremarkable and lacking the vibrant colors of many other species, we assign them little value. But next time you see one, remember how much our Creator values and cares for all of His creation - especially every one of us! Such knowledge is too wonderful! It surely makes the heart happy, and gives us ample reason to sing joyful praises to the God who sees!
(An upbeat version of this hymn (think trumpets, electric guitars, and boogie-woogie piano) is available free of charge).
