A Godsome Sign

From Sandy Darlow

In 1999, after a job loss due to lay-off, my husband, Lance, decided to obtain his AZ license to drive transport truck internationally throughout Canada and the U.S.  Except for an occasional short trip during his 17 year career with the Canadian Armed Forces, he had never been away from home for extended periods of time and the thought of him being gone for two to four weeks at a time filled me with anxiety. 

One afternoon, while he was gone from home, I was feeling particularly anxious about his absence and decided I should sit down and talk to God about it.  I asked God, in my prayers, to please give me a sign that my husband was okay and that He was watching over him. 

Later, that evening, I was collecting clothing items for the Diabetes Association and after getting them ready I started towards the door to take them out to the front step for pick up the next morning.  As I began to open the door I saw a sparrow sitting on the front step.  I expected it to be startled and fly away, but it didn’t.  I opened the door all the way and stepped down.  The bird didn’t move.  I thought maybe it was injured or resting. 

When it still didn’t move as I walked right up to it I decided to bend down and extend my hand, palm facing up.  To my surprise the bird jumped into my hand and looked directly at me.  At that instant I recalled the prayer I had offered up to God earlier in the day and the words, “I am your sign” echoed in my head.  I brought the bird up to eye level and said, “Thank you God”, and the bird flew away.  I felt the burdensome worry lifted from me and replaced with a feeling of peace.  The proof was in the pudding, or in this case, my hand.  God had sent me a wonderful little messenger to tell me He had heard me.  For years afterwards whenever I was feeling anxious or unsettled I would think about that moment when God extended His awesome grace to me.  Thank You God!