Many Sparrows

           Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:6-7)

          Last night was a tough night. There are some circumstances that aren’t as I want them to be, or that they aren’t looking like they’re going to be what I want them to be. That led to spiritual warfare. I didn’t like how I was handling it. Where was my faith? Where was my love? All I could really find was impatience, greed, and shame because I couldn’t make the reflection in the metaphorical mirror a pretty one. In a word, I was disgusted with myself. It didn’t help that I couldn’t fall asleep. And then I come to the Bible passage suggested by Biblegateway.com for today and find “Many Sparrows.” Thank You, Father.

          I’m reminded of a poem I wrote years ago:

 

 

My Five Smooth Stones

                            

My five smooth stones, they missed their mark today.

The giant laughed and went his scornful way.

and I, left dazed and bloody on the field,

can only say that I refused to yield,

for all the good that did, I slowed him not

No vict’ry song; it’s better off forgot

 

Your five smooth stones, they missed their mark today

But mine flew straight, they did not go astray.

Your ego’s wound will let your soul be healed,

and from the worst my mercy did you shield.

The battle won was not the one you thought

But standing there you did not do for naught.

 

                             Allyn Ransom

(inspired by I Samuel 17:40)

 

          There are days and, perhaps more often, nights like this. We have our own ideas of what victory means in our circumstances, and when we don’t get the victory we want, we may think we lost. But God’s goal may be different. And one of the things we need to pound into our hearts is that God values us above many sparrows, even if we fail.