Free The Little Sparrows by Al Lacy

heal it. Somehow, our tears help to heal our broken hearts.”
    Johnny sniffed again. “Wow! He is a great God, isn’t He?”
    “Yes, Johnny. Indeed He is.”
    Frances dished up the hot oatmeal, added a pat of butter and a lump of brown sugar to each bowl, and placed them before the children. Then she put a stack of buttered toast in the middle of the table and a cup of milk at each child’s plate.
    She brought her own bowl of oatmeal and a cup of coffee and took her seat. Heads were bowed, and Frances prayed over the food. She also asked the Lord to comfort the Marston children in their sorrow.
    When she lifted her head and opened her eyes, all three of the children sat staring at their food. “Well, go ahead. Eat your breakfast.”
    Mary, Johnny, and Lizzie set pain-filled eyes on her.
    “Oh. Now, sweet babies, I know it isn’t easy to swallow past the lump each of you has in your throat, but please try. You must eat. Your parents would want you to eat. Let’s do it for Mama and Papa, okay?”
    Mary’s voice was strained as she said to her brother and sister, “Let’s eat for Mama and Papa.”
    When breakfast was finished, Mary said, “Mrs. Roberts, I’ll do the housecleaning while you and Johnny are washing and drying the dishes.”
    “I’ll help you clean the house, Mary,” volunteered Lizzie.
    The foursome stayed busy with a variety of chores while they remained alert for the sound of hoofbeats. They were hopeful that when Pastor Moore arrived, he would have good news.
    While Mary went about sweeping and dusting, Lizzie was close by, doing what she could to help. Often Lizzie would move up to Mary and cling to her. She would stop her work and simply hold her little sister until once again she was comforted.
    It was early afternoon when the buggy came to a halt in front of the house, and all three of the Marston children bolted through the door and onto the porch with Frances not far behind.
    A chorus of voices greeted Pastor Darryl Moore, and he greeted them in return as he stepped out of the buggy. Frances could tell by the look in the pastor’s eyes that all was not well, but pretending not to notice, she invited him in and they all went into the parlor and sat down. Frances and the children were seated on the sofa, facing the pastor, who was in an overstuffed chair. Lizzie was on Frances’s lap, with Mary on one side and Johnny on the other.
    Pastor Moore cleared his throat. “Well, my news is not the best. There is no one in the church who can take you children on a permanent basis. We have some families who are willing to take you temporarily, but even then, you will have to be split up. There is no one who has space for all three of you.”
    Mary leaned forward. “Pastor Moore, is there someone who would take two of us? I have to be with Lizzie, even if Johnny has to stay somewhere else.”
    Johnny felt a cold ball like ice form in his stomach. He couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from his sisters.
    Pastor Moore nodded. “I’ll see what I can do, Mary. I think there is one family who might take both of you girls. I will talk to them, and let you know as soon as I can.”
    Frances and the children walked the pastor to the door, and when he was driving away, Johnny began to cry.
    Mary looked at him with concern in her eyes. “Johnny, what’s wrong?”
    “I don’t want to be separated from you and Lizzie!” he sobbed. “You two will have each other, but what about me? I’ll be alone! I’m only six years old. Mama and Papa are dead. I need to be with my sisters!”
    While Frances and Lizzie looked on, Mary wrapped her arms around her little brother. “Johnny, I don’t want to be separated, either. The Lord will fix it. He will give us a family somewherewho will take all three of us. We’ll try not to be a bother to them. We’ll work hard to do our part around their house. Surely there’s someone that will understand and let us stay together.”
    Johnny’s entire body