So there's this fish....

-"Not even a sparrow, worth only half a
penny, can fall to the ground without your
Father knowing it. And the very hairs on
your head are all numbered. So don’t be
afraid; you are more valuable to Him than
a whole flock of sparrows."
Matthew 10:29-31

Growing up in church, I've heard this verse too many times to count. Such a sweet reminder of God's care for us and yet I think sometimes, I don't appreciate it as much as I should. Or maybe understand is a better word.
That was until I learned about a fish.

While watching National Geographic randomly the other day, I learned about the 'Splashing Tetra'. My guess is you've probably never heard of it. I certainly hadn't.
Something unique to the Splashing Tetra is that when it's time to lay their eggs, an amazing thing happens.
The female swims next to the male, somewhat attaching herself to his side, and together they jump out of the water, in the air, attaching themselves to a leaf. It's there that the female lays her eggs and the mall fertilizes them and then they both fall back into the water. Pretty neat, right? But wait!
Once the eggs are laid, the momma Tetra swims away while daddy stays in the water directly under the leaf. For 2 days, daddy spends his time using his tail to flip water up onto the leaf to make sure babies stay nice and wet. That's all he does. With a whip of his tail, water shoots into the air covering his little ones until they're ready to hatch. After the 2 days are over, daddy flips his tail for a final time and the water droplets help the newly hatched 'fry' gently fall into the waters below to begin their new lives. (Here's a little video just for fun... Splashing Tetra )

I just thought it was too neat! The more I sat and thought about these crafty little fish, the more that verse from Matthew kept creeping in.
We know He watches the sparrows and not one falls from the sky without Him knowing. They are His creation and He loves them, but what really made me understand His infinite love, was this little fish. God loves this little fish so much that He didn't just create it to swim and lay eggs on the bottom of the pond hoping everything works out and babies come. He cared so much for these fish that He created in them a unique way to do this. He also created in this daddy fish a 'knowledge' to stay there so the eggs wouldn't dry out and die. A fish!!!

So if our great, amazing Creator cared so much about the 'Splashing Tetra' that He makes a way to meet their tiny little fishy needs, we have no room to doubt anything less for our own lives and every teenie tiny aspect of it. Nothing is out of the realm of God's love and passion for us!

God is ever present. God is healer. God is provider. God is comfort. God is peace. God is faithful. God is loving. God is counselor. God is teacher. God is mine. God is YOURS! He loves you. He really, truly loves you.

So while I'm thankful for that sweet verse in Matthew and God's reminder of His care for us through the sparrow, I'm even more thankful today for the little fish and what they taught me about God's care of each one of us.

Today, if you're struggling with something, remember that you have a great big God who desires to be there to meet your needs. He's waiting to listen and ready to move on the scene. NOTHING is too small! NOTHING!