Wrapping paper is recycled. Christmas baubles are packed away in boxes. The dangerous ice of January 2025 is finally melting.
But, I’m watching birds on the feeders and still thinking about… presents. About how I get almost giddy when I find what I know is the perfect gift for someone. About how excited I get just thinking about their surprise and their smiles when they unwrap the present.
And I wonder…
Is that what God felt like while He created Northern Cardinals?
Did His eyes twinkle when He chose that particular shade of red? Did He smile knowing how excited we’d be to see a Cardinal in the snow? Did He smile at our delight over finding dozens of those birds, bright red ornaments in snowy evergreens, waiting for breakfast at dawn? Did He belly laugh at our scrambling from window to window trying to accurately count 13, no 16, oh my gosh we have 18 cardinal couples! as they fly back and forth between feeders and trees?
It seems to me that Cardinals could get their seed-spreading and baby-raising done just fine – even if they were as brown as sparrows or gray as mockingbirds.
But for reasons known only to God, He made Northern Cardinals an almost impossibly bright red that brings delight in even the bleakest mid-winter.
Thank You, Lord, for the gift of those glorious Cardinals. Thank You for their songs and calls and scrappiness, for their distinctive crowns and their black masks. Especially, Lord, thank You for the gift of joy they bring us.
Love,
Deb
22 Responses
I love to see these beautiful birds! They, of course, remind me of mom and dad. I know it’s a saying that has no factual basis, but as God sends these bright birds into our vision, I am reminded of the love of those who are in heaven. I think He may be sending that gift. Also of note, we were just discussing the color of our Cardinals in Sunday School. One of our folks was in Nicaragua on a mission trip and said that the cardinals in Central America are much more brown, like female Cardinals here in summer, and not nearly so beautiful as those we see here in winter. Thanks for the beautiful thoughts and picture on a gray and dreary day. May God continue to send presents to remind us of His presence and love for us!!
Thank you so much for your thoughts, Cindy. Yes, I’ve heard, too, that Cardinals represent God’s reminders of loved ones in heaven. For me, it is the bluebirds. Mom and Dad loved them and worked so hard to attract them with nesting boxes. Don and I loved them and spent many mornings together on the porch taking photos of bluebirds. After weeks of not seeing them, a bluebird showed up the morning of Don’s funeral. One of God’s gifts that day, for sure.
How interesting that Cardinals in Central America are LESS bright than they are here – when so many birds from there are gloriously vivid!
May God, indeed, continue to remind us of His love and presence.
Take care!
Deb
I too love the cardinals!!
Have you noticed how they are often the very first birds on the feeder in the morning and the last before dark? They either REALLY need the extra food, or they REALLY like quiet time at the feeders!
Take care, Gloria!
Deb
Thank you, Deb for sharing!
Thank you for allowing me to share, Beth!
Take care!
Deb
Again thanks for sharing your talents of capturing God’s creations so beautifully in your photography and putting into words your thankfulness. Love watching the cardinal birds, especially in the snow. God is good and often it seems He sends us reminder of His goodness just when we need it.
Thank you again for allowing me to share, Pam. God is, indeed, good. How true that He sends His reminders exactly when we need them!
Take care!
Deb
I, too, spent numerous hours watching the Cardinals and other birds feeding at the feeders during the snowstorm. What a delight to behold! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience with us.
Those birds were a delight, indeed! During this storm, we saw our first Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker! And for the first time this winter some male and female Purple Finches. Such fun!
Thank you for joining me in enjoying God’s gifts, Linda.
Take care!
Deb
These beautiful Cardinals as well as all the other birds are so interesting to watch during this cold winter. I think the bright red color is suppose to bring us joy! My cousin and I always said that the Cardinals was our sign that our grandmother was watching over us! They are truly a special gift from God.
Oh yes… ALL the birds! Golly, I think we counted 21 different species of birds here for a few days! So cool!
I’ve heard others say that about those red birds. But, it’s the blue ones that remind me of Mom, Dad, and Don. Mom and Dad worked so hard to attract the birds with bluebird houses. Don and I took lots of bluebird pictures off his deck and my porch.
What a gift all those feathered beauties are!
Take care!
Deb
All is received and my enjoyment is rising. Thank you for reminding us to give THANKS for the seemingly small and simple that we might overlook. As always your writings take me with you…
Ohhh… thank you, Shelley.
And, thank you for “coming along” to thank Him for His beautiful, simple gifts.
Take care!
Deb
Thank you for sharing so much of nature through your photography and your messages! I love the excitement you create! Not just the birds, though they are truly gifts from God! Thank you so much
for bringing that color to all of us!
Thank you, Paulette, for reading the messages and sharing in the excitement!
Take care!
Deb
Deb,
Bird watching is quite a delight! While I thoroughly enjoy watching the more delicate birds through the window or sitting on my patio, there’s nothing quite like sitting in a deer stand while woodpeckers are pecking for food, blue jays are screeching through the trees, the occasional chicken hawk swooping through looking for a meal and, as evening approaches, owls calling through the woods at each other. The beauty that God has created is awe inspiring!
Thank you for sharing your talents.
I so agree! I love the way you worded your experience! I go deer “hunting” at Patty’s with my camera. I’ve seen the hawks and jays from the stand, but I’ve never heard or seen owls. An owl calls from trees in Aunt Pearl’s woods. Sometimes we’re sure he is calling from the pin oak in our yard, but we’ve never seen him. Some day…
Thank you for sharing your love of nature, too, Jill. God’s creation is indeed awe inspiring!
Take care.
Deb
Thanks for sharing Deb. We watch Cardinals every morning in our back yard view. We can also spot them very far away in the trees behind us.
I think it is fun, too, to see the Cardinals far off dotting the trees. Don’t they look a lot like Christmas ornaments, then? 🙂
Take care,
Deb
I smile every time I see a cardinal! When one lands on the back porch or near me outside, I tend to say hello. Maybe I talk a little bit more to him. Maybe. Ha! Do these smaller posts more often. It works!
Well, Jan… I have to confess that I’ve chatted with the birds, too! And, the chickadees talk back! However, I haven’t found a chickadee/human translator app yet, so I’ve no clue what they’re saying 😉 Probably something like, “Less talk. More food, please!” Ha!
Thank you. I hope to have my next short post out by the end of the week.
Take care.
Deb