The Sparrow

Party plans were being implemented.  Decorations were strewn across the kitchen counter.  We had upbeat music blaring through the speakers in the kitchen.  My daughter and I were discussing which decorations should go where.  Guests were expected to arrive within a few hours.  My brother was going to have a fantastic birthday, well, a nicely decorated one at least.

I stepped into the front porch to hang the Happy Birthday banner. across the front door  I moved the banner to the left, then the right.  Finally, it appeared to be straight and I returned inside to the kitchen.  I found Leeza sitting on a bar stool, holding a bird in her hands.  

She opened her hands to show me the tiny sparrow.

"He flew into the window, then when he fell to the ground, Zeus picked him up.  I made Zeus drop him as soon as I saw it."

Zeus is our bird-hunting Husky.  We love Zeus, but we really hate his bird-hunting instincts.

The sparrow had his eyes closed, his little body was resting deeply in Leeza's hands.  His beak was open, gasping for air.  

"Do you think we can put him in a cage like we did the baby birds?  We can nurse him back to health."

I stroked the bird's wing with my index finger.

"Honey, he's not going to live longer than ten minutes."

Leeza's eyes filled with tears.

"I'm sorry, hon.  He's taking his lasts breaths."

Leeza held the little bird in her hands while he continued to gasp for air until he died.  A fun party celebration had suddenly turned sad.  I turned off the music.

"The good news is that he didn't suffer long," I tried to console her.

She continued to hold the dead bird in her hands.  "Are you sure?" she asked me.  "Can you see if you feel a heartbeat?"

I touched his little chest.  "He's stopped breathing, and I don't feel anything."

We wrapped up the dead bird.  I suppose perhaps it seems a little silly to be saddened by the death of a tiny sparrow, but I think the passing of any life from this earth is somewhat sacred.  

"Leeza, there's nothing wrong with feeling sad for even the smallest sparrow.  It means you have a tender heart, and that's a good thing."

Even God cares about the sparrows, and why wouldn't he?  They're His creation. 

Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Even though the tiny sparrow passed in Leeza's hands, He was also in the Father's hands.  How sacred the death of a human life must be to God, if even the life of a sparrow has His attention.  He saw the entire scene, and He was present with Leeza as she cared for the sparrow in its last moments.  His love abounds for all of His creation.

God hates death as much as we do, even the death of a sparrow.  He can't wait for the day when we will face death no longer. 

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

I can't imagine what a world with no death would feel like.  How must it be to feel no pain?  To never cry?  One look at the news relays nothing but a world of suffering,  But God is talking about a world without fear.  A world with inherent joy every minute, every moment.  Yes, God is going to take us to world where He's eliminated death and fear.  We will never have to witness suffering again.

I can't wait.  I can't wait to see Him with my own eyes.  His presence will be my constant comfort.  His companionship will be consistently known by me.  I will literally get to walk with my creator.  It is the highest desire of my heart.  

We eventually turned the music back on, but at a lower volume.  We finished decorating for the party.  In a few hours, the guests began to arrive, and the children and dogs ran around the house in happy chaos.  Toys were on the floor of the living room, phones were held in the air, filming memories.  Food lined the counters, and a cake was lit with many candles.  The kids lined up with colorful paper plates, awaiting a piece of cake.

Leeza's spirit were lifted by the house of activity and laughter.  She joined in with the party, talking with her aunts about school and work, and telling stories of her life.  Her aunts laughed with her, and told her she was beautiful, and they began to talk about hair and clothes.  She began to tease with her cousins and uncles, and I knew she was going to be fine.

The sparrow was just a memory by the end of the day, but as the house fell quiet and the guests departed, I couldn't help but remember the little bird in Leeza's hands.  

Thank you Lord for your promises.