God has a way of plucking people from the worst circumstances and setting their feet on a rock to serve and praise Him. Ethel Waters is one of millions who testify about the life changing experience.

Some of you may remember the Billy Graham Crusades televised years ago. I wrote a blog here sharing my thoughts about those crusades as I remembered Billy Graham.

Ethel Waters was often a guest singer at the crusades. Many had no idea of her story. Born in Pennsylvania in 1896, she was a product of a disparaging childhood. She made her way past the bar rooms to Broadway and achieved worldly success as a singer and later in the movies. An Emmy nomination made her the first black woman to have the honor.

Ethel’s early choices were tragic, but not hers alone. Her horrible beginning was no match for the redemption coming. Worldly success would pale once she found salvation in Jesus and lived the last 20 years of her life devoted to His service. Finally, her life was used for eternal purposes until her death in 1977.

The Billy Graham Crusades was the redemptive stage that put her God-given talent in front of millions. Once she met the only One who could save her soul, she had the confidence to believe, as the song says,

“When Jesus is my portion, my constant Friend is He; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

A sparrow is not the most beautiful bird God created. Its size is usually about 5 inches, and its coloring is brown and other neutrals. It is not impressive, yet God created sparrows for a purpose. There are lessons to apply, and I think Ethel Waters did.

“His Eye Is on the Sparrow” is one of her most popular songs. Charles Gabriel and Civila Martin wrote it, but Ethel Waters brought it to life. You can watch her sing it here.

Thank God for her life. Once redeemed, God defined her purpose away from the world to serve in His Kingdom; her story for His glory. When she sang, Ethel’s welcoming smile and sparkling eyes displayed a fact. Ethel had made the best choice and wanted everyone to understand they could make that choice, too. Because when one chooses, there are so many reasons to sing. 

 ©Valerie Rumfelt

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

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