The Tale of a Sparrow

A True Story, by Katie L—— (almost 10)

It all started one day when Katie came over to do some things with Miss Laura. When she went outside she saw a little birdhouse and she said, “I wonder if there are any birds in there?”

“I don’t think so, but let’s check,” said Miss Laura.

They got the ladder and Katie said, “There are five baby sparrows in the nest!” They were pink and had fat bulgy tummies. You could see their insides. They had no feathers.

It was almost two weeks later before Katie came back to visit. She looked in the birdhouse again and saw three baby birds. They had feathers and were really cute and fuzzy.

Katie said, “I want to tame one.”

Miss Laura said, “It is going to be hard to tame a baby bird, but you can try.”

Katie and Miss Laura found an old birdhouse and cleaned it out. They put some straw and feathers into the house and then they put a baby bird in it. One of the little sparrows got away.

Then Katie said, “Are there any more in there?” She lifted up the old nest and found one baby sparrow left. She put it in with the other baby and said, “We better get some food for them. They are probably very hungry.” But that night they were too spooked to eat.

The next day Katie said, “I want to take the baby birds to show my best friend, Hannah.” They took the birdhouse to the Brawley Farms (where her friend was having horse riding lessons). On the way there Katie lost one of the birds in the truck. “Oh, no!” she said. “I can’t find it and I don’t want it to get hurt.” They looked for it, but they couldn’t find it.

Katie set the birdhouse (with the other sparrow in it) outside by the door of the stables. She said, “I’ll show it to my friend after her lessons.” But when they came back, the box was open and the nest was torn apart. Katie thought that the dog had gotten her last little bird. She felt very, very sad.

As they were driving to her aunt’s house, Katie thought she would never find the other baby bird. Now she didn’t have any birds left to tame! “Maybe we should pray that we would be able to find our baby bird in the truck,” she said.

“We will pray that God will help us find it if He wants us to,” said Miss Laura. “And we’ll pray that He will keep it safe.”

When they arrived at Aunt Coquetta’s house, they started looking again. They looked under the passenger’s seat. No bird. When they looked under the driver’s seat, Miss Laura said, “I found him!”

Katie said, “You did?”

Miss Laura said, “Yes, I did. And pray that we can get him out safely.” So that is what Katie did.

Soon they got the bird out safe and sound! They thanked God for helping them find him and for getting him out safely. Katie put the baby bird inside the nest and took it in to show her aunt.

Aunt Coquetta said, “What is his name?”

Katie said, “His name is Special because he went through a lot of hard things and he lived through all of it.”

Katie realized that even though something sad can happen, God can still help us and He wants to show us that He loves us. He loves us even more than many sparrows.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”* (Luke 12:6-7)