Day 15

I spent the weekend with the beautiful refrain on my mind, "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me." It's the chorus for a gospel hymn written at the beginning of the 20th century. [Read entire lyrics here-they are beautiful!] The song is based on the verse of Matthew 6:26 which reads: "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" I think this passage holds so much meaning and poetic value, all religious beliefs aside. For me, it is intensely personal. It's a love song. A simple reminder I am cared for.

I needed that reminder after last week. My mother-in-law says things break in threes. The saying holds true for last week's events. The washer broke. Then the car. And then we received a hefty medical bill. Expensive life events. We went through last week reminding ourselves we are cared for by the Lord, the one who cares for the sparrows.

On Sunday we did a little thrift store shopping, and I came away with some incredible finds. Things I had been needing and hoping to find at a good price. I was elated. As we drove home, I kept thinking, His eye is on the sparrow...

This week I want to post some photos of the things that remind me of the sparrow. Images of the provisions that came to me exactly when I needed them. They are all creatively obtained. I am in a place in life where creative living is essential. It is a season of both want and plenty. While there is not much in the way of financial plenty (as is the case for many Americans right now), there is much room for creativity. And I like being in this place. I look at the world and see opportunities within the discarded, disinterested, and ordinary things. I repurpose that which has seemingly lost its value. It's a challenge to be creative. And the satisfaction is addictive.

I took this picture of my new 'seasonal' corner. I talked about this project here, and I am excited to finally have accomplished it. The photo for today is full of creatively obtained items. The chalkboard was one of my thrift finds yesterday. As we unloaded the car, I told Matt, "And I was even looking for a chalkboard just this size." The branch was laying outside in the heap of branches Matt gathered from the yard this weekend. The ornaments were a gift. The clock belonged to my late grandfather. While these objects may seem trivial to some, they hold untold value to me. They remind me that if He can provide birdseed, He will provide for me.