For The Birds - Ethel Waters

1896–1977

She was the first African American woman to receive equal billing in a Broadway show. For her role in the 1949 film Pinky, she received an Academy Award nomination, the second African American woman ever to receive one. She sang in jazz clubs, performed with the likes of Duke Ellington on stage and Sammy Davis Jr. in movies, had roles on television in its early days, and was eventually inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Ethel Waters had a successful public career, but her personal life was frequently tumultuous when she was young. But in the last twenty years of her life, her career took a turn. She rededicated her life to Jesus and toured with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association from 1957 until 1976. Her signature song was “His Eye Is on the Sparrow.” In fact, the song became the title of her autobiography.

That title refers to a passage in Matthew 10, where Jesus was giving his disciples the authority to go out in his name to drive out impure spirits and heal every disease and sickness. No big deal, right? Actually, it was probably incredibly scary, overwhelming stuff for twelve men who until recently had been fishermen and laborers.

To calm their fears, Jesus told them that not even a sparrow, a bird of very little value, ever falls to the ground without the Father being aware and caring about it. If God cares so much about a sparrow, Jesus assured them, how much more would he care about these twelve men, each of whom was much more valuable than a sparrow?

Ethel Waters understood that in the scary, lonely times, God’s “eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me,” as the song says. Do you understand that too? The Bible frequently reminds us that we can give our fears to Jesus. “Don’t let your hearts be troubled,” we’re told. “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (John 14:1; 1 Peter 5:7). If there’s something that has you worried or fearful right now, remember that God cares, you are valuable to him, and he’s watching over you.

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it.

Matthew 10:29