WILL THERE BE SPARROWS IN HEAVEN

As a handyman, I often get into theological discussions with my customers in large part due to the fact that I'm very open about my faith.  Some customers are of like faith as me, and others well...let's just say they tolerate me.  This last week I had a whimsical discussion with a customer that I do a lot of work for.  We'll call him Jim.  Because we are both over sixty, we found ourselves quickly discussing what heaven was going to be like.  I was telling him about all the people in my life who've passed away and how I longed to see them again.  Jim smiled and told me that in the church he goes to, they have a couple of ladies who've declared that if their dogs won't be in heaven, they don't want to be there.  Jim suddenly got a serious look on his face as asked me if I thought dogs would be in heaven.
OKAY,  in my nearly 65 years on this earth, that is the first time someone has asked me if dogs would be in heaven.
I don't know.  I can conjecture about it, but I don't know.  Will our beloved pets be raised from the dead?  Will heaven have all new marvelous creatures for us to befriend?  These are questions I don't have answers for.  Will there be sparrows in heaven?  Personally, I don't think there will be, but I also know people for whom the thought of heaven without pets would cause them to break out in tears.
I actually think it speaks to the wonderful gift of love that God has placed within us.  His breath is in us, and it causes us to love just like He loves. We can express our love to something that can't communicate it back.  Then again, if the animals on this planet are an expression of God's creative spirit, wouldn't it make sense for them to be replicated in heaven?  What intrigues me is how much we get attached to animals who are unable to communicate with us, and what that says about our capacity to love.  It isn't trite or silly that a couple of sweet ladies would desire that their beloved pets join them in heaven. 
So, for now, as this Holiday season is fast coming upon us, I want to believe that everything the Father has created is redeemable and repeatable.  I want to believe that there will be beautiful creatures beyond my imagination, as well as familiar little sparrows. 
Will there be sparrows in heaven?  I hope so.