His Eye is on the Sparrow

Little Bird, 2025

Watercolor pencil & watercolor

11" x 15"

Hi, art blog friends! I am so excited to share my new drawing with you. This sweet little watercolor pencil sketch has been months in the making, requiring a lot of restraint and many “hands in your pockets” moments… but today it is finally finished! Woohoo! 

The inspiration for this piece came from an encounter with a real-life sparrow (who was just as darling as his portrait). 

This past summer, Grandma and I had the pleasure of taking a trip to the coast. We both adore the coast; the smell of the fresh sea air, the power and majesty of the rolling waves, the breath-taking sunsets, not to mention all the happy memories that come flooding back every time we step foot on the beach. 

It was on our first stop, at our first beach, that we met this lovely little fellow. He took his job as the sole member of the “Costal Welcoming Committee” very seriously and hopped up to us fearlessly. Grandma and I were both instantly taken with him and proceeded to coo and shower him with compliments. “Well, aren’t you just the sweetest thing ever!” we both agreed with “awwws” and soft little laughs. Our new sparrow friend responded with increasingly more adorable hops and head tilts, as though he knew exactly what we were saying. 

(Tiny Sparrow... there is actually a little bird in this picture)

Suddenly, Grandma had the worst thought a grandma could possibly have, “oh, no! You must be hungry!” “You poor thing,” she said in her most concerned grandma voice, “I’m so sorry I don’t have any food for you.” The little sparrow immediately popped open his little beak as wide as it would go the moment the word “food” was spoken. He definitely understood what that word meant!  We couldn’t help but let out a laugh and return to our “awwws” the moment we saw his comically dramatic gesture and little pink tongue. Grandma resolved that she would fix this situation - the next time we came to this beach she would have crackers at the ready!

Grandma immediately grabbed a handful of Wasa crackers, upon returning to our hotel, and placed them into a ziplock bag (after breaking them into tiny bird bite-sized pieces of course). The contents of the baggie was approximately three times the size of our little bird friend but no one was gonna starve on Grandma’s watch! 

We returned to that beach many times over the course of our stay but, alas, our little bird friend was not there. Grandma was committed to keeping her promise though. On our last day in town, on our last stop at the beach, we returned to the very spot where we had first encountered our little sparrow friend. The beach was very crowded that day so Grandma elected to enjoy the view from the car. However, she made me swear an oath that I would give our bird his crackers! I left the entire pile of lovingly crushed up bits in the place where we first met him and he stole our hearts. 

Grandma’s commitment to her promise to provide for the little sparrow was such a beautiful reflection of God’s own faithfulness to us. She was working a plan in the background to provide for that sparrow, even though he had no idea. She showed up over and over just hoping to bless him. And there wasn’t a day that went by on our trip that she didn’t mention him and her concern for his wellbeing. 

Long after we had returned home, my mind kept returning to the image of that sweet little sparrow and I couldn’t help but smile every time I though of Grandma’s deep desire to bless him with those Wasa crackers. His darling little face and funny gestures kept on blessing me and I decided they were just too precious to keep all to myself - I would draw him and share him with the world.

 

There were many breaks in the process of creating this drawing (both those prompted by the Holy Spirit, and those which I imposed upon myself). I had lots of opportunity to just sit and stare and think about our little friend and the whole experience. My mind  eventually moved past the surface cuteness of his exterior appearance and began to wander to deeper places. Jesus’ comments from the Sermon on the Mount were among the first to come to mind: “Consider the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them…” and then the next part came to my awareness, “aren’t you worth more than they?” Matthew 6:26 (CSB, emphasis mine). I went to my Bible to meditate on this verse and stumbled across Jesus’ words to the Disciples in Matthew 10, “you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:31 (CSB, emphasis mine). 

You are worth more than many sparrows. A beautiful awareness came upon me - I am worth more than many sparrows. I am precious to God and just like the sparrows, He takes care of me. I smiled and carefully resumed my penciling and let that comforting truth wash over me.  Then, a song filled my heart and I began to sing:

“I sing because I'm happy

I sing because I'm free

His eye is on the sparrow

and I know He watches me”

I began this piece with a desire to share my cute little sparrow friend with you. I hope you enjoy him and the heart warming Grandma-story but I end with a new desire. It is my deepest hope, dear friend, that you would know this: God sees you. God cares about you. And in the moments when we feel very small, take heart and remember - God is watching over even the tiny sparrow… and you are worth so much more.

...and just in case you would like a little viewing music, here is:

 "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" by Selah ;)