He Sees You, Little Sparrow

 

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

-Civilla Martin, 1904

 

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31

God will go to amazing lengths to reveal His love to us.

I have always wanted to visit Amish country. Once, when we were staying in Pennsylvania, I planned a day out in Lancaster. The fields are stitched together like a quilt with long fence lines, patterned with tall silos and massive barns. Roads have an extra-wide shoulder beveled with tracks from regular “teams,” the Amish term for the traditional horse-drawn carts they use for transportation.

A friend suggested we have lunch with an Amish family and gave me the number of a gracious hostess. I called her, but she’d just had a grandbaby and gave me the number of a cousin. I called the cousin, who wasn’t serving that particular day but gave me the number of her sister. I called the sister, who planned to milk the cows and rest the next day, but suggested her mother-in-law might be interested. 

So I made my fourth call.

Susie was delighted and welcomed us to her home. We set a time for 12:30 the next day.

We spent the morning moseying through antique stores, finding hidden bakeries bursting with freshly made apple fritters, and learning what a quillow is (It’s a quilted pillow.)

As we made our way up the long driveway that cuts through Susie’s 70-acre farm, we marveled at the simple, profound beauty of peace and hard work. Susie’s husband Joseph met us at the door to their giant farmhouse and welcomed us to a table set for feasting.

We talked about faith and family, farming and all the things people pickle. They had never tried watermelon pickles like my husband grew up eating in his German household. But their beets reminded me of the childhood pickled beets at my great-grandmother’s table.

My husband and I told them about our work among the persecuted and our love for Muslims. 

Joseph leaned back in his chair, tucked his thumbs in his suspenders, and asked,

Have you ever read a book called, Not Without My Daughter?

We looked at each other in amazement.

We sure have!

Susie piped up.

Did you know there’s a sequel written by the daughter?

We did not.

Joseph explained to us then that just up the road a bit, there lived a Muslim woman who had been abused and abandoned by her husband. She lived all alone now with her small child and rarely came out of her house. She was paralyzed by fear. But Joseph and Susie’s daughter-in-law had started visiting her.

It’s our way. We help one another.

Now, about once a month, Joseph harnessed the team and drove them all into town for groceries. 

My mind was dancing with the image of a woman in hijab, coaxed out of fear by kindness and love, riding in a horse-drawn cart with her Amish friends.

She needs more help than we know how to give. She needs someone who can help her go home to her mother.

And here I thought I was planning a simple getaway with my family for the day.

All along, God had His eye on a sparrow, worth so much more than she realized. #seen Click To Tweet

The body of Christ is miraculous, really. Our Amish friends (they are true friends, now!) merely did what they have learned from Jesus. We merely testified to the work God has given us to do and the people we have learned to love in His name.

He had a plan all along.

I see you, little sparrow.

Lord, lead me to the sparrows so they will know you see them. Amen.

@audreycfrank

Image by Hans Benn from Pixabay

We have since connected Susie and Joe with a local friend who is building a relationship with their neighbor and seeking help to get her back home.