It’s Saturday 🎉 Let’s put a song 🎶 in our hearts ❤️
Hymn: 🎶His Eye Is on the Sparrow🎶
Author: Civilla D. Martin (1866-1948)
Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
This classic gospel song that was written in the early 1900s has a simple yet surprising meaning behind it that can be a blessing to many.
The Story Behind “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”
Civilla Durfee Martin (1866-1948) was born in Nova Scotia and passed away in Atlanta, Georgia. A schoolteacher with modest musical training, Martin, along with her husband, Walter (1862-1935), often composed gospel songs for revival meetings.
Their most famous hymn, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow,” was born out of a moment of deep inspiration. During their travels in 1905, they visited a dear friend, Mrs. Doolittle, who had been bedridden for nearly 20 years. Despite her physical limitations, Mrs. Doolittle’s unwavering faith and joy in the Lord left a lasting impression. Her husband, an incurable cripple, was also bound to a wheelchair, yet their lives radiated hope, comfort, and Christian love.
Civilla Martin recounts the powerful moment when the hymn came to life: “Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We formed a deep friendship with a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle, true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nearly twenty years, and her husband, an incurable cripple, had to wheel himself to and from his business. Despite their afflictions, they lived joyfully, bringing inspiration and comfort to everyone they met. One day, my husband asked them about the secret to their bright hopefulness. Mrs. Doolittle’s simple reply was, ‘His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.’ The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped both Dr. Martin and me, and it inspired us to write the hymn ‘His Eye Is on the Sparrow.’”
The very next day, Civilla mailed the poem to Charles Gabriel, a well-known gospel composer, who set it to music.
The hymn’s powerful message reassures us that God’s watchful eye is always upon us, offering protection and comfort in the midst of life’s trials. Through Mrs. Doolittle’s quiet but profound faith, this song became a timeless reminder that no matter what we face, God’s care and love are constant.
Lyrics:
Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
And long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion?
My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
I sing because I’m happy—
I sing because I’m free—
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.
You can listen here:
https://youtu.be/MkTkfpOjoi8?si=WptyGgCgtWDonkCy
References:
King James Bible – Matthew 10:29-31
https://hymnary.org/text/why_should_i_feel_discouraged_why_should
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-his-eye-is-on-the-sparrow
