Cardinal

I wanted to share a really cool moment that happened last Saturday morning.  It was emotional and I've yet to retell the story without crying a little.  

We were loaded up in the car, about to head to our niece's softball came when my Aunt Jennie called me.  She and Aunt Patty were cleaning out some of my Granny's things, donating clothes mostly.  They came across a couple of lapel pins that I picked out Granny for Christmas a few years back.  She wondered if I would want to have them.  Well of course, I would be honored to wear them.  (Yes, I'm crying now....) 

We didn't talk more than a minute or two, I for one was trying to be strong and I didn't want to make her cry.  She was doing something courageous and I didn't want to be a crybaby. I hung up the phone and we pulled out of the driveway, headed towards the game.  I was quiet for a few minutes but then I told Mike that I still can't believe she's not here, she's been gone 3 months but I can't wrap my brain around that.  We pulled up to an intersection and I looked out the window, trying to pull myself together and with Mike and Henry as my witnesses, there was a red cardinal, hopping around on the ground, not 5 feet from our car.  

I'm sure you're wondering, "It's a bird so what's your point?"  Well this is where the tears really kicked in for me.  The morning of her funeral processional (the first attempt, the one with the awful ice storm), I looked outside the window and saw a red cardinal in the snowy trees.  I commented to Mike about the bird but then text my mom as she loves bird watching.  I simply told her what I saw and that is was beautiful.  (Seriously, it was something out of a Kinkade painting. Gorgeous.  I don't like birds or icy weather but the two together, their contrast was stunning.)  She text me back, "That means something special. Google it." I did and this is what the search returned:  

 

Yep. All the tears. 

I know that as believers, we aren't supposed to look for signs, but mercy, I couldn't help but feel like God sent a little wink to me that day and again months later.   We got to the ball game, Mike asked me if I was ok and I told him that yes, I was going to be fine, just needed to get out an ugly cry.  I told him that God is good, He knew that I needed little bird.