His Eye is On The Sparrow...

A long time ago the movie Sister Act 2 came out and the music was fantastic! My dear friend Briana Phillips and I at the age of about 13, were bound and determined to have the same gospel sound down of those amazing black teens who performed "His Eye is On the Sparrow" for our church during the special music. For weeks we BELTED it in her bedroom. She had her parts, I had mine, and perfect harmony was intertwined. If only we had known the dates for the casting call for Sister Act 2, we'd have surely been chosen.
The morning came for our performance and we met with the piano player. She already was familiar with the tune and didn't think a prior rehearsal was necessary. Well folks, it was. Turns out there is a MAJOR difference between the 1920's hymnal piano version of the song, and what we had been singing to on our CD. We did our best with what happened, but I'm just glad nobody got it on video. At least I pray they didn't. For whatever reason it still made our mom's tear up and I guess that's what was important, but for us I think we were just glad it was over.
Back then I didn't pay any attention to what the song meant. I wanted to sound good to the other youth group kids so they would think I was pretty much a rock star with some sweet skills. Maybe that's why God knocked me down a notch with that piano player gig, maybe not. It wasn't until a few years later that the song came back into my life.
My dad came home from work about the same time I came home from school and said to my mom, "You paid HOW MUCH???" in his angry tone. Mom always got him to calm down somehow. We all walked into the kitchen to see what was once an ugly wall paper border, ripped down and replaced with an artists painting of some sparrows in between the words, "I sing because I'm happy, I sing because I'm free. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me." For years I stared at those words in my home as I ate my cereal, talked for hours on the phone with friends, and even stared out the window and chatted with mom about anything and everything in life. Not once though, did I ask her why she chose to have those words painted on her wall. I mean a common printing found in kitchens are ingredient lists, "FLOUR, SUGAR, COFFEE" and what have you. She could have stenciled those words there. And even if she just wanted a daily spiritual reminder, that's great, but why that? I mean, have you SEEN the bible? It's got a LOT of words in it. Why did she choose the reference to the sparrow?
I didn't hear the song again until her funeral. She died quickly. We didn't get to say goodbye. We didn't get to ask questions. DIdn't get to tell her all of the things we would have if we'd only known. For her service we had to guess what she would have liked. That's always awkward, but part of the process. A wonderful man, Herb Jones, stood up on the stage and sang the song with all of his might. "I sing because I'm HAP-PY!! I sing because I'm free!! His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me!" I honestly didn't get it. Why are we happy? I didn't plan this service, but I could have chosen a few other songs at that moment. Probably ones with swear words. That's probably why I didn't get to plan the service.
Fast forward to today. I was alone in the house. That's when grief hits hardest. It's good for me though. I don't have to be strong for anyone, I don't have to hide my feelings from the kids, I can just be. I decided to take a bath. While I was taking that bath that song came into my mind. And I cried. A lot.
My other mom, Mike's mom, is going to die. Soon. We know this. And it is so hard and weird and overwhelming AND a blessing. We get to go spend a week with her in Sun River before her body starts to feel too sick. This is a time I never got to spend with my mom before she died so I'm very grateful, but how do you possibly fit in everything you want to do with her before she goes? I mean, Blake can't get married. He's 7, It would be illegal. But to imagine the rest of my kids' lives without her is....there isn't a word for it. But instead of focusing on what we are going to miss out on, once again in life I must focus on what we do get to do. I get to write her a letter and make sure I've said all I want to say about how much I love her. I get to take a walk with her and squeeze her arm. I get to take a million pictures of her with me and of her with my babies. I get to ask her all of the questions I have about her childhood, hopes and dreams. I get to say goodbye in a totally different way, which is unknown territory and scary, but God's timing is perfect and His eye is on that sparrow, so I know He is watching over me. And even though I'm freaked out about watching my kids go through this loss, I also must trust that He is watching over them too.
Sue has been through so much. Breast cancer multiple times, lung cancer, brain cancer and now bone and liver cancer. She lost her only sibling to cancer and was with her when she died. She faced her moms death, her step son's near death and has burried two grand babies. She is ready to go to a place where there is no more tears, pain, suffering. She will be reunited with her loved ones and there will be great joy and dancing. And to hear her Heavenly Father say, "Welcome home my good and faithful one"...I just can't imagine! It's where she belongs. And she'll save a place for us all I know it.
So while I was in the bath tub I sang His Eye is On the Sparrow to Jesus and it was the prettiest I've ever sang it. Not because of my voice, not because the words were just right, but because I finally got it. And I sang it to Him with all my heart. "She'll sing because she's happy. She'll sing because she's free! His eye is on that sparrow, and I know He'll be watching over me!!"