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Greetings on this beautiful Autumn Day,

Yesterday, I was looking through some keepsake English coins.  I came across a weathered farthing like the ones I used as a child in England.

Do you know what a farthing is?  It’s a fourth of a penny.  Yet this humble little coin had purchasing power in its own time.  With a farthing, I could buy two choice sweets from old Mr. Wolstenholm’s small sweet shop at the top of the “Nineteen Steps.”  Climbing those steep steps was like climbing into a Charles Dickens‘ novel.

A farthing, when Jesus grew up in Nazareth, could buy two sparrows.  Later, in Matthew 10:29, The Lord chose to use the farthing sparrow as a picture of God’s tender care and value of even the smallest of His creatures.

Looking at my own keepsake farthing reminded me of a story, now tucked away with other stories in my Christian Mother Goose Story Chest.  I thought it would fit nicely with today’s blog theme for both the young and the young at heart.

So, dressed up in storybook form for you, from my feathered pen, is a Christian Mother Goose parable for the families of our BlogNog friends.

FARTHING SPARROW’S DISCOVERY

One fine morning, Humpty Dumpty was on his way to see the Peacock Parade at Turton Towers. What a wonderful sight it was to see the Peacock family in their finest feathers; glistening with all the colors of the rainbow.  They lived in a handsome Summer house in the gardens of Turton Towers.

“Not any cozier than my own little house by the wall, though,” thought Humpty, as he strolled along, thinking of the Peacock’s lovely Summer house.

Right in the middle of his thoughts, he met Farthing Sparrow coming down the pathway.

“You’re going the wrong way, Farthing Sparrow,” he said.  “This is the day of the Peacock Parade, and it’s a parade well worth your time in their beautiful gardens.”

“I’m sure it is, Humpty,” replied Farthing Sparrow.  “But I have always felt out of place in such fine-feathered company.  After all, a little brown sparrow is not to be compared with the beautiful, stately, rich and confident peacock.  Going there would only serve to make me more sorry about the Sparrow family tree.”

“Come, come now; you are beautiful in your own way, Farthing Sparrow,” said Humpty in a gentle voice.  “It is written that God has made everything beautiful in its time.”

“But look at my name – Farthing Sparrow!  That means only half of a half of a penny!  Sometimes I wonder if that is all I’m really worth – half of a half of a penny.  It’s enough to make a sparrow feel quite undone…falling apart…and thoroughly discouraged – if I think about it too long.”

“Undone!  Falling apart!  Discouraged!  Farthing Sparrow, don’t even say those words!  Let’s sit on this rock while I remind you of some very special things today.”  Humpty’s voice was very kind as he spoke to his little friend.  Then, with his head hung down, the little brown sparrow hopped upon Humpty’s soft knee to listen.

“Farthing Sparrow, you have wings!  You can fly – fly through the air; over the rooftops; watch the children play from the best seat in the heavens.  How much is that worth?   And what’s more, you are a homebuilder.  You plan, build and finish the job in time for your family.  How much is that worth?  You can sing!  And you’ve never charged anyone to listen.  I’ve even heard you say that you can afford to give away your songs.  So, in a way, that makes you a small phil-an-throp-ist.”  (That was such a long word, Humpty had to say it in little pieces…)  “And to be a phil-an-throp-ist, you have to be worth quite a lot!”

“You have personally carried thousands of seeds to fields that once were empty.  Look at them now…rich in clover and heather!  That makes you…pardon me, Farthing Sparrow, while I put this other long word together…that makes you an agri-cul-tur-ist of the finest degree; important and highly valued.”

“Furthermore  (and I say this with great respect), it is actually written in God’s great Book that the Sparrow family lived in the courts of the House of The Lord!  Even the Peacock family marvels at this blessing.  And on top of all this, The Lord has also said He watches over you and cares for you.  That is worth more than all the world.”

“Half of a half of a penny?  That is all you are worth?  Never!  Farthing Sparrow, you are a bird with rich abilities and blessings from the Heavenly Father – worth more than we can count!”

By now, Farthing Sparrow’s chin was up, and his head was beginning to nod in agreement as Humpty Dumpty went on: “Behold!  A gentleman Sparrow… self-employed… home-owner… flight expert… philanthropist… agriculturist… and above all – with a written guarantee that he is blessed by The Lord!”

“Ah, it is my great pleasure to accompany you today to the Peacock Parade. Will you kindly lead the way, Farthing Sparrow Esquire.”  Humpty saluted in grand style as the tiny sparrow hopped off his knee.

With his little head held high, and a big smile on his face, Farthing Sparrow led his own parade.  He felt perfectly altogether, and blessed as a sparrow of great worth.  And what’s more…his little brown sparrow heart was warm and happy – which was exactly as it should be.

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Take heart, dear Blog-Nogs, “…it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.  But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit….”  (I Corinthians 2: 9-10)

The Bible is God’s Book of Discovery, written by The Holy Spirit; ever revealing so great a salvation in The Lord Jesus Christ and the unfolding marvel of God’s mercy and love to us all.

Let not your heart be troubled…the sparrows still sing!

Cheerio for now ~~~

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Christian Mother Goose®

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