Could Watching a Sparrow Quiet Your Anxious Heart?

I was sitting at a bus station, waiting for my bus and feeling irritated. The journey had already been long, and several frustrating disruptions had left me emotionally unsettled. My mind kept returning to everything that had gone wrong. Then a cheerful chirping sound beside me caught my attention. A small flock of sparrows was hopping across the station floor, gathering crumbs. As I watched them, I began wondering how such tiny creatures survived the harsh winter and the scarcity of food.

They did not appear consumed by worry. Instead, they seemed carefree—almost as though they were enjoying themselves. I found myself wishing that I could be more like them.

So I continued watching, wondering whether these ordinary sparrows might have something to teach me.

My latest painting and poem grew from that moment of observation.

"Beholding sparrow" 2026. Oil on canvas, 30cm x 30cm

Beholding Sparrow invites viewers—especially those who feel anxious, frustrated, or emotionally unsettled—to pause and practice attentive observation.

To behold something means more than merely glancing at it. It means remaining present long enough to notice what might otherwise be missed.

When our minds are overwhelmed, we often replay the past or try to predict the future. Careful observation gently brings us back into the present moment. It creates space to notice beauty, receive insight, and become aware of God’s quiet presence in ordinary life.

The invitation within this painting is simple:

Pause. Look carefully. Behold.

What do you notice?

Learning From Something Ordinary

Few creatures are as familiar and easily overlooked as a sparrow. They are small, common, and seemingly insignificant. Yet when Jesus wanted to teach His disciples not to live in fear, He chose the modest sparrow as an example of the Father’s attentive care. Jesus reminded them that not one sparrow falls to the ground outside their Father’s awareness.

If God notices each small bird, how much more carefully does He see and value His children?

The sparrow in the painting is beholding five daisies. Daisies are commonly associated with innocence, purity, happiness, fresh beginnings, and the beauty of simplicity.

The scene offers a gentle contrast to an anxious mind. Nothing dramatic is happening. A sparrow is simply looking at flowers.

What Are You Beholding?

Anxiety narrows our attention. It encourages us to focus repeatedly on danger, disappointment, and everything that might go wrong. The practice of beholding invites us to redirect our attention.

Yet perhaps peace begins there—in learning to notice what is present instead of becoming consumed by everything that is absent, uncertain, or beyond our control.

You may discover that God uses something very small to speak to something very deep within your heart.

Poem “I wish”

You might not see beyond your modest disposition, but I do.

I listen to your heart when you say to yourself that you are worthless. 

I wish you realize it isn't true.

Your words are like arrows that pierce my heart. 

I wish you can listen when I say to you: 

“My beloved. My child. My life”. 

I wish you would take time to answer my question:

If I can take care of a group of sparrows, 

Why shouldn’t I be able to take care of you?

© 2026 All Rights Reserved.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” - Matthew 10:29-31