At the back of Gracie’s house was a round white birdbath in the middle of the lawn. Grandma was careful to keep it filled with water, so that the birds were sure of a drink.
Gracie loved to watch them come, tip down their beaks for a mouthful, and then tip their heads back to let it run down their throats. All the birds do that, you know, because they can’t swallow as we can. It looks as if they are looking up to thank God for every drop they take. It ought to be a reminder to us to be thankful, don’t you think?
Sometimes Gracie liked to scare them away, just for the fun of seeing a flutter of wings, and they were gone. And, to tell the truth, she liked to play in the bird hath herself, with her hands, yes, and her feet, too! Gracie was a big sparrow in the birdbath, wasn’t she?
Of course, our little girl is of more value than many sparrows. The Bible says so. Sparrows are God’s little creatures, and He notices every one that falls to the ground, but every little girl and boy has a soul. Do you remember that, dear children, and do the older ones remember it, too, when we have little ones in our care? There is nothing so precious in all the world as a human soul. Our blessed Lord Jesus said it was of greater value than the whole world, but He gave Himself to redeem such. How precious a soul must be in His sight!
For little lost girls like this, and for colored ones too, sinful and wretched, our Saviour died. Are you under the shelter of the blood He shed on Calvary, clear reader? Nothing else can put away sin from. God’s holy presence.
ML 10/07/1951