His Eye On The Sparrow...

Posted: March 30, 2009

This picture of my oldest son Timmy and me was taken around lunch time in September or so of 08. 

It was a warm sunny day with a slightly chilly breeze coming across the water that cooled you off to an almost perfect temperature as you walked across the stones to the other side of the Trinity River.

We were on our way back from a very scary Doctor’s appointment where we saw a specialist to determine why Timmy was having chronic stomach pain. It had been going for some time and we were on the verge (within the next few days) of an exploratory surgery to see what could be seen and determine how to fix it. 

We stopped at a Mexican restaurant, and since Timmy wasn’t in pain at the moment, we decided to go on a little excursion. 

Near the restaurant  was access to the Trinity River, and man did it look fun! Actually, it was :0)!

We went back and forth across the river jumping from stone to stone, eventually racing from side to side, dangerous, but hey, we’re boys, what do you expect? :0)

Timmy had so much fun in those few minutes, more fun than I’d seen him have in a long time. It was so refreshing to me, so encouraging to see him being a 12 year old kid instead of dealing with all the pain that accompanied his condition, whatever it was. He trusted God completely. Still does. He knew that God was going to see him through whatever lied ahead, and he wasn’t near as consumed with the unknown as his Mom and me were. 

Timmy knew God, heard His voice, trusted His promises, His will, and the future God had / has planned for him no matter what it held - because he knew / knows Him. It seems like he automatically trusts Him because He believes in jesus so deeply that there is never a reason to doubt. 

When a trouble or two came up, Timmy asked  Jesus to take care of it and rested and totally trusted Jesus to take care of it. Then he was totally peaceful again. Why? Because Jesus was taking care of it; why worry about “stuff” if Jesus is taking care of “stuff” for you?! 

Why didn’t I have that same peace? It was because I wasn’t trusting and resting in Jesus like Timmy was. I was trying to control things, “get em done” in my way and in my own time. My faith was small; if it had been more “childlike”, I would never had trusted myself instead of God.

Oh, the peace that filled my heart as I gave that burden to the Lord! 

Praise him for His faithful mercy, lovingkindness, and little reminders that we are given everyday by His Holy Spirit!

The following passages came to mind during that time and I remember them often, especially when looking at these pictures.

PT

Questions: 

1. Have you “lost” your “childlike” faith as an adult?
2. What has God brought into your life, as of late, that has, or should have, caused you to trust Him more?
3. Are you resting in Him, or trying to control things on your own?
4. What is holding you back from fully trusting in Him; and is it really worth holding on to instead of trusting and resting in Him?
5. Why don’t you fully trust, and rest, in your Savior today. 

Matthew 11:25-30 and 6:25-33 say it best.

Matthew 11:25-30

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 6:25-33

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.