06/21/25 Weekend Grif.Net - Two Beloved Songs
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Civilla Durfee Martin, 1866–1948, was a schoolteacher married to Baptist minister Walter Stillman Martin. Walter taught for a time at Atlantic Christian College in Wilson, North Carolina, while also leading revival meetings. In 1904, the Martins were at the Practical Bible Training School in New York, where Walter was helping the principal put together a song book.
One Sunday Walter was scheduled to preach in a church some distance away, but Civilla was not feeling well and could not accompany him. Walter thought about cancelling his preaching, but their nine–year–old son asked, ‘Don’t you think God will take care of her?’
So, Walter went and preached as scheduled. When he returned home, he found Civilla had written a poem about what their son had said. Walter then sat down at the organ and composed the music to this comforting hymn:
Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.
Refrain:
God will take care of you, Through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you, God will take care of you.
Through days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.
No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.
A few months later, in the spring of 1905, Civilla and Walter were in Elmira, New York and developed a deep friendship with Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle. Mr. Doolittle was crippled and confined to a wheelchair, and Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for close to twenty years. Although faced with such afflictions, they were happy Christians who inspired and comforted all who knew them.
One day Walter asked them the secret of their bright outlook, and Mrs. Doolittle replied, “The Psalmist said, ‘Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.’ I know his eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me”. Civilla and Walter were both moved by this simple yet profound faith, and Mrs. Doolittle’s words became the basis of Civilla writing another beloved song.
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.
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 doubt and fear.
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see:
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 the closer to Him; from care He sets me free:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
I’ve had a rough month with sickness and only now starting to feel like “normal" again. These two songs have been played at our house again and again to remind me of God’s loving care for us.
~~
Dr. Bob Griffin
“Abhorring all my sin, adoring only Him”
