Sunny the Sparrow Sings Her Thanks - A Children's Story

Sunny the Sparrow Sings Her Thanks

By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller

Moral of the Story

Gratitude is a song that fills the heart with joy and reminds us of God’s goodness in every season. When we choose to thank God instead of complain, our hearts grow lighter, and our spirits shine brighter. True joy doesn’t come from what we have but from who we know, Jesus, the Giver of all good things. Each sunrise is another chance to thank Him for His love, His creation, and His care. Even when life feels cloudy or hard, there’s always something to be thankful for. When we fill our days with thankfulness, our hearts overflow with the peace and joy that come from God.

High in the branches of a tall oak tree lived a cheerful little sparrow named Sunny.
Every morning, she woke before the sun rose and sang her favorite song. Her voice was soft but sweet, floating gently through the meadow.

“Thank you, Lord,” she chirped as the first light touched the sky. “Thank you for a brand new day!”

The other birds admired Sunny’s cheerful spirit, but some of them didn’t quite understand it.

“Why are you always singing about thanks?” grumbled Grady the Grackle, who never seemed to smile. “It’s too early for all that noise.”

Sunny just smiled. “It’s never too early to thank God,” she said kindly. “He gave us this morning the blue sky and the trees we live in.”

Grady shook his head. “Easy for you to say. You always find food. Some of us have to search all day.”

Sunny paused. “Even then,” she said softly, “we can thank Him for the strength to keep searching.”

Grady flew off, mumbling, while Sunny looked up at the sky and sang louder than before.

🎵
Praise God for the sunshine bright,
Praise Him in the morning light,
Praise Him when the skies turn gray,
God still blesses every day.
🎵

That afternoon, dark clouds began to roll in. The wind picked up, shaking the branches of the oak. The other birds darted for cover, but Sunny stayed perched near her nest, watching the storm gather.

When the first drops of rain began to fall, she tucked her head under her wing and whispered, “Thank you, Lord, for the rain that helps the flowers grow.”

Lightning flashed, and thunder boomed. Sunny’s little heart beat faster. She felt afraid, but she began to hum softly to calm herself.

In the middle of the storm, she heard a frightened voice below. “Help! My nest blew away!”

Sunny peeked through the rain and saw Penny the Pigeon flapping wildly near the ground. Her nest had tumbled down, and her two small chicks were stranded on a branch.

Without thinking twice, Sunny swooped down through the rain. “Follow me!” she called.

Together they lifted the chicks, one by one, and carried them to the safety of a hollow in the tree. By the time they were safe, both birds were soaked from beak to tail.

Penny shivered. “Thank you, Sunny. I was so scared.”

Sunny smiled. “So was I. But God helped us both.”

When the storm passed, the sun peeked through the clouds. A bright rainbow stretched across the sky. The raindrops sparkled on the leaves like diamonds.

Penny’s chicks chirped happily in their new nest. “We’re dry now, Mama!”

Sunny looked at them and whispered, “Thank you, Lord, for keeping us safe.”

Grady the Grackle flew by and landed nearby. “You’re still singing?” he said, shaking his head. “After all that thunder and wind?”

Sunny nodded. “Yes, Grady. Because God was with us through it all. That’s worth singing about.”

Grady looked at her quietly for a moment. “Maybe you’re right,” he said finally. “I guess I have something to thank Him for, too.”

Sunny’s heart filled with joy. “That’s the spirit, Grady! Gratitude turns worry into worship.”

As evening came, the sky glowed pink and gold. The birds gathered on the branches, drying their feathers in the gentle breeze. Sunny fluttered to the highest branch and began to sing again, her voice warm and full of life.

🎵
Thank You, Lord, for all You’ve done.
For every gift beneath the sun.
Through storm and peace, through night and day,
Your love has guided me all my way.
🎵

One by one, the other birds joined in. Even Grady hummed softly, tapping his claws on the branch. The whole forest seemed to hum with praise.

Sunny looked around at her friends and smiled. “You see,” she said, “joy grows wherever we plant thankfulness.”

As the stars appeared and the moon rose over the meadow, Sunny tucked herself into her nest and whispered one last prayer before sleep.

“Thank You, Lord, for this beautiful day, for friends who learned to sing with me, and for Your love that never ends. Amen.”

Poem

A thankful heart is full of light.
It shines through dark and stormy nights.
When clouds appear, and skies turn gray,
God’s love still guides us on our way.
So sing with joy both near and far,
Give thanks for who you truly are.
Each word of praise, each grateful song,
It will fill your heart and make you strong.

Questions for Thought

1.   Why was Sunny the Sparrow thankful, even during the storm?

2.   How did her thankfulness help Penny and Grady learn about God’s love?

3.   What are three things you can thank God for today?