A LADY living in a big city told this true story. A baby sparrow had fallen into a window well, and being unable to fly, it could not get out. The mother bird was at the top, looking down with pity and alarm at what seemed a hopeless plight of perhaps her only child. Many and ingenious were the attempts of both the mother and the baby sparrow to get him out of his dungeon. But all proved futile.
The lady looked on with considerable interest, mixed with fear and anxiety less the mother might fly away and desert her child. But no! her mother love would not give up. Each new effort seemed to be defeated in one way or another. At last the intelligent little mother flew away and returned with a straw in her beak and rested for a few sends on the edge. The lady looked on with delight when the little baby after a chirp or two from its mother, learning the particulars no doubt of the project, took a hold of the end of the straw in its beak. The little mother pulled valiantly, straining and struggling, while the baby bird fluttered and climbed. Finally it was out of its dungeon and as the two little birds sat there together it would be hard to tell which one was the happiest.
Sparrows are counted of little value in this world. In the Lord’s day two were sold for a farthing and five for two farthings — one thrown in for good measure—in the market. But in our day they are counted as worthless and a nuisance. Yet in spite of their worthlessness, they are loved and watched over by God and not one falls to the ground without His tender eye looking down upon it in pity.
The Psalmist could say, “The sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of host, my King, and my God.” If the little birds find a resting place in His presence, may not we? Indeed we can, dear young reader. “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)) are the words of the blessed Saviour to sinners everywhere.
ML-08/12/1973