Carrie Farrell – June 3, 2025
This week, I was dog-sitting Jonah, a delightful Cavapoo (Prince Charles Cavalier and Poodle mix) for my friend Pam. While I would normally be in better spirits caring for such a cute pup, I found myself struggling and feeling weary over the fact that I had just passed the eighth month of being unemployed. My heart was just not into preparing yet another job application, but there I was once again sending an email seeking an employment opport-unity when something unexpected happened.
A sparrow flew in through the sliding glass door I had opened for Jonah, and began to flutter around wildly
and attempt to fly through the large picture window in the living area, each time bumping its beak into the
plate glass until finally it fell limp onto the back frame of the sofa. That’s when Jonah decided it was sparrow season and attempted to eat the poor bird before I yelled for him to leave it.
I quickly grabbed a soft dish towel to gently cup the sparrow in my hands and managed to go outside and close Jonah up inside the house. I sat on a wooden bench just outside, and held the sparrow in the palms of my hands with the soft dish towel cushioning it so it could feel nested.
At first, it appeared to be in shock, and its right leg was askew. I gently and carefully nudged the sparrow a bit to assess the damage. Its eyes fluttered at one point, and I wasn’t sure if it would survive considering all the trauma. I whispered a prayer to it, saying, “I’m so sorry this happened to you…I’m so sorry that you were confused about the window, thinking you should be able to fly, only to be stopped again and again with each attempt. I held the bird for about ten minutes or more, whispering a healing prayer over it.
Then, it was as if the Lord’s love flooded me with the idea that He was sorry I was going through what I was going through, making so many attempts to succeed, and being let down repeatedly. It was as if Lord Jesus was telling me that He was holding me just as I was holding the sparrow, and was with me in my hurt and disappointment, and to a much larger extent than for a bird.
His love for me overwhelmed me with such emotion that tears fell from my eyes. In an instant, the bird flew away just as if it were perfectly fine.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground [forgotten and] 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
“Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Which of you by worrying can add a single moment to his life?” – Matthew 6:26-27
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” – Luke 12:32
God is good and sovereign over all creation, even a little bird! I am a daughter of the King, not a bird, but as I cared for the little injured sparrow, God spoke His love to me. The kingdom of heaven was brought into my heart in that moment…I know the treasure of my heart, and it’s King Jesus living within me!
Even more special, God answered my prayer just a day after I spoke it! I prayed: “Lord, please show me you are here – be with me, give me a sign of your presence in my life. Please encourage me, dear Jesus!”
The author here is a friend. I appreciate her venerability, how she shares her feelings and honesty with the Lord. That is something we see with David in the Psalms. It’s something that all of us could use more of, especially in the midst of trials or hard times. I like how she dovetails in the corresponding Scriptures that apply, that speak to one’s heart.
By the Way: If you know of employment opportunities for a woman with skills and extensive experience in the areas of project management, organizational and team development, data analytics, management generalist, etc., you can find Carrie Farrell on LinkedIn.
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