June 8, 2023
“I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near just around the corner. All is well.”
– Henry Scott Holland
When Melissa’s father died, she was convinced he came back to watch over her when she spotted a cardinal coming to the bird feeder that winter. It’s a popular belief. She told her neighbor Frank, but he scoffed. But then, to avoid hurting her feelings, he said, “Well, maybe, who knows? I’m sure he cares about you and wants to make sure you’re OK.”
So he decided to do some internet research and typed in “What does it mean when you see a cardinal after a loved one dies?” He hit the search button, and 136 million responses appeared, which all said basically the same thing: “Seeing a red cardinal after death is a message from heaven. There’s a belief that seeing a cardinal after the loss of a beloved person symbolizes a visit from the other side. This way you’re receiving a message that the soul of the deceased person is still with you and you’re not alone in this world.”
As luck would have it, or perhaps fate, two cardinals, a male and a female, started appearing at Frank’s bird feeders, and the first thing he thought was, “Could it be my mother and and father watching over me?” But then, things got a little more confused after he told Melissa and they tried to discern if they were the same cardinals, going to different feeders or just symbols from different parents.
Whatever it was, they got consolation in thinking their loved ones were sending a sign that they were OK and concerned about them in their grief. This much is certain, even if you’re not visited by a cardinal at your bird feeder, you can be sure your loved ones are watching over you. Constantly.
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Those you have lost will not let you make your healing journey alone.