The Sparrow

Those of you who "know" me, understand how I used to write little stories (which I love to do) but until today, I just haven't had time. Things sort of come to me especially when I spend good quality time with my kids. Today, I just sat on the ground outside, paying attention to EVERYTHING around me, and then wrote you a little story. It may mean different things to different people.

Once upon a time there was a bird. A small but beautiful little sparrow that would spend her days singing from tops of some of the most gorgeous trees at the city park. One day she was singing a melody she’d written herself from atop the tallest most beautiful red maple tree, when she realized that none of the humans were listening. Oh sure, they would stop and turn to the crows, who sang the same old songs over and over, but why wouldn’t they listen to the sparrow? So she decided to fly to a lower branch, maybe they just couldn’t hear her. She flew down to the bottom branch, and sang her song with pride. She noticed an elderly couple approaching her. Just then they stopped right in front of her, they only noted the beauty of the old tree. The fine red maple told the sparrow, “maybe you should try another tree, I am so bright with my beautiful fall leaves, maybe they don’t notice you from my branches.”

So the sparrow flew to the next tree, just an average pecan tree. Again she sang her tune with pride and when she looked around, she saw a couple approach the tree. Excited, she flapped her wings and the humans never even looked up at her. They were too busy admiring Squirrel, grabbing a nut like the thief he is, and scurrying back up the tree. Pecan Tree told Sparrow, “maybe they can’t hear you from my branches, I am so full of delicious pecans, the humans are distracted by all the squirrels, try another tree.”

And off sparrow flew, this time landing on a branch of a water oak. She sang her little heart out, only to yield the same results. “But Water Oak, why don’t they listen to my song?” The wise water oak told Sparrow, “It’s not the song you sing, it’s who you sing it to.” Stay here with me for a while and sing your beautiful tune, one day someone will turn to listen. So Sparrow built a nest inside Water Oak’s branches. Everyday, she got up and began singing her song. The busy humans were running thru the park, pushing their baby strollers, having their picnics, but no one listened.

Until one day, this human Mommy was walking with her little girl. Picking up pine straw, pine cones, acorns, and more putting them all into a bag. As they came closer, Sparrow became so exited that she began flapping her wings and she lost a feather. When the humans got closer, the little girl picked up the feather and showed it to her mommy. Sparrow began to sing. Both Mommy and little girl pointed to their ear and smiled so bright it warmed Sparrow’s heart. They must have stood there for thirty minutes listening to Sparrow sing. Mom told the little girl “Say bye-bye birdie” and as they waved goodbye, Sparrow knew that she was meant to sing for them. Had she given up like many times before, the little girl may have never heard anything other than crows. Sparrow knew that even if no one else ever listened to her, her song had been heard. Sometimes people only hear crows, but when they really listen, a Sparrow’s voice just might be near.