Monday, December 28, 2009

Fish, Birds, and God

Fish. Cheap ones cost about a buck and a half at the local pet store. We bought three of them and a small aquarium earlier this year. They were ostensibly for our youngest daughter, so naturally their care and feeding fell upon me. I couldn't help being saddened the other day when I found one of them had died. I wanted to replace him, but not unless I got a clean bill of health for my tank's water, so I took a sample down to the pet store for analysis. I learned the water had an ammonia problem, and I have to follow a particular regimen to bring the water back to good, and hopefully the other two fish will survive the ordeal.

This passage from Matthew 10:29-31 (ESV) came to mind:

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

My eldest daughter said "I'm sorry Dad." When the Matthew passage came to mind, it dawned on me that if God cares about birds, then He probably cares about fish as well. But that's not the point of the passage. The point is that if God cares about a sparrow, then he really cares about his child. Really really cares. Cares like crazy. And so, child of God, do not be afraid.