The morning that Mama passed away, there were several cardinals at the bird feeder. The morning that I read the post from Michele, a female landed on the shephard's crook near to where I sat and chirped loudly, almost like she was scolding me. That morning I was extremely sad, until I saw the bird. I've seen a female cardinal every day since the funeral, usually in the mornings when I'm having the hardest time with her being gone.
Sunday morning, CH & I were talking about Mama when he looked outside and told me there was a cardinal at the bird feeder at the edge of the porch. Seeing them is a comfort. Maybe I'm grasping at straws, but I'm loving seeing and hearing those birds.
From "Cardinal Signs & Symbols":
Cardinal Sounds are symbolic of: Cheer, elevation, clarity & communication
- The call of a cardinal can come to cheer us up, or cheer us on.
- The unique clarity of his call is can be used to gain our attention and lift us from our depression, our sorrow or perhaps our ordinariness. The cardinal’s call can call to us to do our duty.
- A cardinal call can tell us to give up any vanity or appearances we may be holding on to and follow the hope in our heart, a cardinal hope that will lead us, on our upward journey through the cycle of life.
A cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed. When you see one, it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you most need them or miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as despair to let you know they will always be with you. Look for them, they'll appear.
Well, I was rather hoping to read something about the baseball team. ;-) But truth be told, I was glad to read that you're finding comfort for your hurting heart.
ReplyDeleteOh, I just love that, Mary! My mom loved hummingbirds and whenever I see one, which is frequently lately, I think it's her way of letting me know that she's A-OK.
ReplyDeleteI live in Cardinal Country - University of Louisville Cardinals that is... though my husband hates that :) University of Kentucky Wildcats is his team :)
ReplyDeleteI think there are those connections with loved ones that God lets us find peace in & still lets connections happen. Love that!
That is so wonderful and I believe in things like this. I have a blog friend who lost her son 3 years ago and they have had visits by a blue bird ever since he passed away. Actually she is such a wonderful writer that she has a book coming out soon called
ReplyDelete"Rare Bird: A Memoir of Loss and Love"
When my mom passed I was up late and the light in our family room started to flicker and flicker and flicker. It was definitely a sign from my mother. Nothing was wrong with the bulb/light at all. Had the same experience with my mom while I was in the hospital once and she still visits from time to time. This was 32 years ago. Also when my mom passed their kitchen clocked stopped working. It was electric and no other power was out. When we returned home from her funeral the clock on the wall began running again. We took that as a sign that all is well.....
I have heard this about cardinals. While I don't think it is possible for those that have passed on to come back and visit us like this (but that's okay if you do, I just can't find anything in the Bible that supports it), I do think God could be sending signs to you that He knows you are going through your raw grief and he is letting you know that he's there walking alongside of you. After my mom died, I saw a hawk in an unusual place and I knew God sent that hawk. Now I see hawks whenever I know God wants to remind me he is there. I am glad you are taking comfort with seeing the cardinals :)
ReplyDeletebetty
You know, I'm sure the cardinals are God's special messengers, telling you that all is well. Embrace it and enjoy her visits. She knows you know. I believe.
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful. You & I can take comfort, when we see a cardinal, that our loved ones are A-Ok.
ReplyDeleteI love that the cardinals are bringing you comfort! I do think that sometimes things like that are one of those little things to let us know that our loved ones are still looking out for us all the time.
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