His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Early in 1905, Civilia Martin and her husband were visiting in Elmira, New York. There they made friends with a Mr. & Mrs. Doolittle. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for 20 years; her husband was a crippled man in a wheelchair. Despite all their obvious troubles, this couple was happy and full of hope. When asked their secret for this, Mrs. Doolittle's reply was: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me." This hymn was the outcome of that experience.
Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven 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.
Refrain:
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.
"Let not your heart be troubled," His tender word I hear,
And resting on his goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path he leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw close to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
