red male cardinal
Image source: Pinterest

This morning I texted our family “Happy Easter! Love you!”

Just as I was leaving out the back door to drive to church, I saw a red male cardinal fly to a tree branch in our yard. I stood still, and it flew right in front of me, to the bird feeder nearby. 

For those who don’t know, the red male cardinal is very special to me. Years ago I read an article about a woman whose mother had died. She was in deep grief, as they were very close. One day she looked out her kitchen window and saw a red male cardinal perched on a tree branch. She felt the bird was heaven-sent and that it was God’s symbol to her that He saw her and He loved her.

Since then, every time I’ve seen a red male cardinal I have felt like it is God’s special way of letting me know He sees me, He is with me, and that He loves me. I often see one on the worst days, which is very comforting to me.

What’s interesting is that I haven’t seen the red cardinal lately, and had been praying to see one. I felt God sent it to me this morning on Easter Day to remind me of what Jesus did for me on the cross out of His great love for me.

God also knew ahead of time what would happen today to me. After church, a situation occurred which deeply hurt me and made me feel very rejected. Crying, I  remembered the red male cardinal, knowing that God always loves me unconditionally, even if others don’t.

I was in my kitchen after lunch, and looked out the window, when suddenly I saw the red male cardinal again on the feeder. I smiled through my tears and thanked God my Father, who I felt was emphasizing His love for me.

female & male cardinals

Then the female cardinal (brown with a little red) joined him. First she was on the ground, then she joined him together on a feeder. They seemed to kiss. This made me smile and reminded me of the verse Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NKJV, and of a husband and a wife with God at the center:

“Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

I’m so very thankful God did this for me today. He knew what would happen ahead of time, and He was giving me a visible, tangible demonstration of His love for me.  

More than anything, Jesus demonstrated that agape love for all of us on the cross through His death, burial, and resurrection. Today on Easter, know that you are greatly loved by God.

What special signs has God given you that are meaningful and personal to you? Leave your comments below.