Featured Stories
This Page features our growing collection of real-life Cardinal Experiences with titles that begin with letters M through R.
Cardinal Experiences
A Cardinal Experience is defined as the moment a red cardinal appears unexpectedly after the loss of a someone special. A cardinal may appear while you are experiencing a difficult time or even as you are celebrating a special occasion.
Share Your Story
For those who have been blessed by a Cardinal Experience and would like to share it with us, please submit your story via the form provided on our CONTACT Page. Once your story has been published on our website, we will send you an email with a link to your story and a complimentary memorial photo in memory of your loved one. Please allow 4-6 weeks for your beautiful story to be published.
MAGICAL BLESSINGS
In Memory of Coleman Keane
Dorchester, Maine
I never imagined it would be possible to experience such magical blessings.
On three separate and unexpected occasions, I have seen a red cardinal. The first time was the morning of my dad’s funeral on April 27, 2020. It was a rainy day and while I was looking outside, a red cardinal flew into one of my trees.
Since that day, I continued to look outside and was quietly praying for the cardinal to return. Finally, on May 15, 2020, my little red visitor stopped by again to visit in the afternoon, right before a rainstorm hit.
The third time was today, May 16. I was talking on the telephone to
a friend who was checking on me. I had been crying and told her about my first two cardinal sightings. While we talked, I was staring outside my window. We continued to carry on talking about various things. Suddenly, I stopped our conversation and screamed loudly with glee, “My bird’s back!” I reached for another telephone, hoping to capture the cardinal’s photograph, but it flew away. It was so beautiful! I would have loved to capture its photo as this time it was in a tree much closer to the window than the two previous times when it was in another tree, much further away.
I love my dad dearly, so these cardinal blessings truly warm my heart. I imagined that some people might think I was crazy, but after seeing the red cardinal three times now, I am a true believer. I still feel my dad’s love and feel incredibly blessed knowing he will always be here with me.
MAGICAL MOMENT
In Memory of Patsy and Dennis Hammitt
Montgomery, Alabama
My kids and I were shopping in a store that my Mom and I often went to before my parents had passed. For some reason, I could not stop thinking about them. As we exited the store, a vibrant red cardinal flew by my truck and landed on a tree right in front of us. It was a magical moment and I could feel that my parents were with us. Thank you, Mom and Dad ... We love and miss y'all every day.
MAJESTIC ANGEL
In Memory of My Father Art
Glen Burnie, Maryland
My father passed last month, and it was the hardest thing I have ever experienced. Within the past month, a beautiful red cardinal has made his home in my backyard. Today out of just talking with a friend, I mentioned it to her, and she said, "It is your father watching over you!" Hearing her say this brought me great joy! Another friend told me about the Caring Cardinals® website which led to me sharing my story.
Peace now fills my heart, especially when I see my majestic angel serving as a simple yet powerful reminder that my father is always with me.
MESSAGE FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Keshone Sabier Young
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
My son Keshone passed unexpectedly at the age of 24 on October 27, 2020. I have never experienced so much heartache and pain until now.
The day following my son’s death, I was sitting in my backyard and looking up at the sky while talking to my beloved son. I smiled but also cried while thinking about all the memories we have shared together. I prayed that God would give me a spiritual sign to reassure me that my son is alright. Minutes later, a red cardinal appeared on the gate in my backyard! I have never seen a red cardinal prior to the passing of my son. This moment brought me such peace and, so I wondered if the cardinal’s visit had a special meaning.
After a little research online, I discovered that red cardinals are in fact embraced as spiritual messengers, sent by our loved ones in Heaven! This gave me such immense joy to know that my baby boy sent this beautiful red cardinal to let us know he is alright! I am so thankful to God for allowing me to know my baby is at peace with this extraordinary message from Heaven.
MESSAGE RECEIVED
In Memory of Grace Catherine Clark
Platte City, Missouri and Leavenworth, Kansas
I am neither religious nor spiritual and tend to question many beliefs, but I do feel it is important to celebrate the theories of others.
On May 9, 2020, my life-long friend Grace lost her multi-year addiction battle and passed from a drug overdose. While many only saw Grace for that part of her life, I recognized so much more. Grace brought such beauty, creativity, and sunshine into this world.
Over the years, Grace’s drug use had become worse, which eventually led to nearly every relationship with family and friends to be severed. I remained in contact with both she and her father and promised Grace that I would neither judge nor give up on her. Unfortunately, this would mean during and after her life ended. Grace’s father is devout within his religion and had no doubts whatsoever that Grace went to heaven after her passing.
Grace was my one and only true friend throughout my entire life. Others came and went, but she was the one that remained. Losing her felt like a part of me left with her. I still have so many loved ones here, yet this was a significant loss and left me feeling so alone.
Over the next few weeks, I began to see a red cardinal wherever I went. On some occasions I would be with my husband, while other times I was alone in my car. Each beautiful cardinal brought me a sense of peace that I was unable to explain.
This morning, I was gazing through social media posts and noticed a post relating to the spiritual significance of cardinals. In this moment, I realized that Grace was visiting me, and it completely took my breath away. My heart became so full and I will never let go of this feeling.
Thank you, Grace … Message received.
MICHAEL’S MESSENGER
In Memory of Michael “Mike” Stone
Buda, Texas
Cardinals have always been special to me whenever I see them. To me, it is God made visible.
My husband of 45 years passed away on February 8, 2020. After my family and friends went back to their regular work and school schedules, I found myself sitting alone at the kitchen table, struggling with the loneliness. I started crying, closed my eyes and said, "Michael, you've got to help me. You need to make your presence known. I miss you. I need you. Please help me." I opened my eyes and looked outside through my kitchen window. A beautiful female cardinal was resting on our back fence! A few seconds later, it swooped down to feed in my neighbor’s yard. I got up, ran closer to the window and began crying again. This time I was saying, "Thank You! Thank You!"
Cardinals do not pass this way often, if at all. I have lived in this house for 10 years and have seen a cardinal only once before, so I am incredibly grateful for this Cardinal Experience with Michael’s messenger.
MORGIN’S MESSAGE
In Memory of Morgin Haug
Newark, New Jersey
In May of 2020 I lost my granddaughter quite unexpectedly.
Morgin was born with heart problems and had several surgeries growing up. She had a major surgery at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital at the age of 13 and continued on under the care of a cardiologist. After that surgery, she was doing extremely well. Thanks to God, the amazing surgeons, and her incredible doctors, Morgin had an amazing life.
Morgin excelled at her job as a merchandiser which was stressful at times. Despite all she had endured, Morgin never let it interfere with her life. She packed so many things into 33 years, such as traveling all over the country for vacations and weddings.
In May, she passed unexpectedly at her home. They have no idea what happened, but believe it had something to do with her heart. Ironically, Morgin passed exactly five months after her father passed.
About a month ago, a dear friend told me about the spiritual meaning of red cardinals. The following day, I was gazing outside through a window and saw a bright red cardinal sitting in my rose bush. I went outside and slowly walked a little closer to the cardinal, which did not even flinch. The stunning red bird looked right at me and in a soft voice, I said, “I know it's you even though your eyes are so tiny.” I was overcome with emotion and just know it was my beautiful little Morgin! I went into my home, looked outside a window, and watched the cardinal fly away so gracefully.
I believe Morgin wanted let me know she is alright and that she loves me. I am so incredibly thankful for Morgin’s message from Heaven!
MUSIC TO MY EARS
In Memory of My Grandmother
Stittsville, Ontario
During a particularly difficult time in my life, I felt immense joy while sitting in my backyard and observing a red cardinal visit frequently. I felt a connection to the cardinal and felt as though it was my grandmother watching over me and giving me reassurance.
Last week, my son and his husky noticed two baby birds on the ground that were practically lifeless. There was a nest directly above where the birds were located, so he carefully placed them back inside of it. A few hours later we checked on them and they were back on the ground. They were just forming pinfeathers and you could see mites crawling on their bodies. They appeared to be extremely irritated by the mites which must have been biting their skin and caused them to flee their nest.
The baby birds, also known as nestlings, appeared to be just a few days old. We decided to take care of the nestlings ourselves and began with research on how to remove the mites. We then learned what nestlings eat and how to administer the food. We purchased a hand feeding bird formula and biological grade mite removal. Within one day, the nestlings were mite free and eating food through a syringe. During this time, we had no idea what type of birds they were.
Around day four of caring for them, we observed the red cardinal and nestlings communicating with each other and felt delighted with the possibility that we were caring for cardinal nestlings! We wanted to continue feeding them but decided to try and reunite them with their father. We observed closely to see if the male cardinal would help or hurt them. Much to our surprise, he started to feed them almost immediately! The father cardinal would leave and reappear his bill full of food every 5-10 minutes. He continued to feed them for several days until one decided to fly off with him. They must have been about 21 days old and considered fledglings which is the age they start to fly. The other fledgling continued to visit, so we observed it and fed it for another day. The mother cardinal never returned, and we are not sure why.
The following morning, the fledgling flew into the tall cedar bushes to be with his father. We can still hear them tweeting, which is like music to my ears!
This experience has filled my heart with joy and has brought us all so much love and happiness. We documented our entire journey with helping the cardinal nestlings survive through the very beginning of their lives. I loved the moment we first discovered they were cardinal babies and will cherish our time with them forever.
Thank you to the cardinals for choosing me to look after your babies; it was an honor!
MY ANDY
In Memory of Gene Andrew “Andy” Shumaker Jr.
Freeport, Texas
My significant other, Andy, was dealing with a great deal of turmoil in his life and started to drink heavily. I have a teenage child living at home which is why I forced him to leave and stay with his parents. He was very depressed and refused to take his medications properly or even at all. Andy loved us a lot, but our home was not the environment for him with his state of mind. He was not at all happy about going to stay with his parents, but I was upset and left him with no other choice.
Just last week, Andy took his own life.
I was sitting on my balcony where we had lived together and having a talk with my sister. I was crying uncontrollably due to feeling so hurt and empty without Andy. Suddenly a red cardinal came out of nowhere, landed in my yard and remained there during our entire conversation. We have lived there for over four months now and I have never seen a cardinal there before. Due to my spiritual beliefs, I knew why the cardinal was there, and once again this sweet little red creature brought me so much peace.
This beautiful redbird continues to visit my yard every day. Red cardinals have visited me after I lost my sister, dad, daughter, and mom. I believe in the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals so strongly that I even have them tattooed on my back. Andy knew why redbirds were so special to me. I feel it in my heart that he sent the cardinals to me, just like the rest of my family whom I have loved and lost.
I will soon have a new tattoo designed on my back in memory of Andy. I will always love this man and know that God will get me through this period of grieving. Whenever I see a red cardinal, I will feel his presence and it will always ignite my everlasting peace and love for my Andy.
MY ANGEL
In Memory of Gustavo Garcia
Chicago, Illinois
Every time I am feeling sad, it seems as though my angel knows and comes to visit me. I can hear the cardinal singing and chirping, calling
out to me from a tree in my backyard. I always stand up, walk over to
the door, and say, “Hey my angel, where are you?!” The cardinal is
vibrant red and it always flies across my path or near me. I will never forget these moments, many of which are recorded on my cell phone.
I believe this is the cardinal’s special way of letting me know that everything will be alright, and it always makes my day.
MY ARMY ANGEL
In Memory of Pedro Joseph Costa Chesley
Baltimore, Maryland
Pedro was a quiet, soft-spoken 20-year-old Army Reservist who loved
his life and his fresh career in the military. He was living his childhood dream of one day becoming an Army General. As a Reservist he was
also a sophomore attending Morgan State University on a full scholarship. Pedro had just landed his dream job with Lockheed Martin and was scheduled to begin his employment three days before his life was taken by gun violence in Baltimore City, Maryland.
Pedro was more like a grandson than a nephew to me. I helped raise him as a child and witnessed his many struggles that he turned into success. Pedro was a high achiever who strived to be the very best that he could be. He reached for the moon to accomplish his goals and dreams.
I will always remember the very last time I saw Pedro. He was at my daughter’s wedding on November 1, 2020, and we sat together at the same table. I introduced him to other guests, and made it known that he was in the military. I will never forget the smile he wore on his face after so many quests thanked him for his service and for protecting our country! I could see the pride in his smile. I will never forget the beautiful time we shared together on that evening.
Just 21 days later, Pedro was shot multiple times and died at the same hospital where I watched him being born. His sudden death has taken away a huge part of me, but I am so grateful for the spiritual blessings from above. I have seen beautiful red cardinals appear on my patio and in the tree of my backyard yard. I constantly see a red cardinal that perches on a tree in the front of my house. Each time it appears, I have no doubt it is Pedro’s spirit bringing me signs of hope, peace, and everlasting love.
I believe it is his way of assuring me that he is alright and wants me to be alright too! Pedro will forever be in my heart. Thank God for his spiritual reminders and spiritual support. Gone but never forgotten.
MY BELOVED MICHAEL
In Memory of Michael Alan Stevenson
Fort Mill, South Carolina
My son Michael was only 29 years old when he passed. He had been living with an addiction to Xanax for nearly two years. One day he decided to try and stop on his own. He soon began experiencing withdrawals and sleep deprivation, but he did not give in. He also began hallucinating and was unable to focus on reality, yet he never stopped trying. He went into a hospital on a Sunday in June of 2019. The physician gave him a sleeping pill and sent him home. The following morning, he took his own life. His toxicology report was clean, so we knew that his paranoia, sleep deprivation and hallucinations prevented him from recognizing reality.
I was staring out my kitchen window a few days later and saw a gorgeous red cardinal fly from one of my trees over to my neighbor’s truck. It continued to fly back and forth for several minutes, and I remember thinking how incredibly beautiful it was. I had lived in this home for six years and this was my very first time seeing a red cardinal. Sadly, it did not even occur to me that this was a sign.
Shortly thereafter, my daughter started telling me about the many signs her brother had been sending to her. I asked him to please send another sign, because I needed to know that he was still with me. I woke up the following morning and the red cardinal had returned! This time it was at my garage door and flying from the passenger side mirror of my car over to my garage window. I continued to watch the cardinal flutter around, land on our fence and then eventually fly away.
Two months passed by and this cardinal continued to visit me in the early mornings. On Christmas Eve, my daughter and her husband stayed overnight as it is our family tradition. This was the first time Michael was not with us (physically). I woke up early Christmas morning and looked outside, but there were no signs of my special cardinal. In the afternoon, we all walked out together and went into the garage to look at the lawn mower given to my daughter and her husband for Christmas. Just as we stepped outside, the beautiful red cardinal flew directly into a window, fluttered around in front of the glass and landed on our fence. After a few minutes, he flew away.
My son has repeatedly shown us through the cardinal that he is still with us. It is now the end of January and I continue to see this spectacular red cardinal, which I fully believe is an ongoing spiritual sign from my beloved Michael.
MY BEST FRIEND
In Memory of Rosemary Sutton
Kansas City, Missouri
My mother once told me before she died that she would come back to visit me as a cardinal. She loved watching the cardinals, especially while they rested on her giant cedar tree during the wintertime. She loved the contrast of the male and female cardinals up against the white, glistening snow on the green cedar.
I have frequently observed many cardinals in my neighborhood since my mom passed away two years ago. Today, I went to a store to pick up some final gift items for my daughters’ Easter baskets. My wonderful sister-in-law called me to chat, so instead of immediately going inside the store, I decided to park my car and talk to her for a few minutes. Suddenly, I heard a ruckus near my passenger side window. I looked over and there was a female cardinal pecking at the window while chirping loudly. It proceeded to fly back and forth from my mirror to the store. The cardinal repeated this action at least ten times before flying away.
I immediately felt a sense of peace, knowing it was a spiritual message from my mom. However, my concern is that I am unable to decipher her message. This beautiful female cardinal was trying to get my attention in such an urgent manner. I am at a place in my life of uncertainty and looking for some answers as to which path to take.
My mom was my best friend and I miss her terribly. I will continue to look for spiritual signs, especially beautiful cardinals, as I know that my mom will send them to let me know she will always be with me.
MY CARDINAL CALL
In Memory of My Mother, Father and Aunt
Black River Falls, Wisconsin
Several years ago, I experienced three great losses within a period of only 15 months. The first was my mother who passed just 10 days before Christmas in 2006. Then, I lost a very dear aunt in October of 2007. Easter Day in 2008 my father passed away. Needless to say. my grief was overwhelming.
My father loved cardinals which appeared often in his yard. Not long after his death, we began to see several cardinals in our yard. Shortly thereafter we moved across the state. My grief was extreme, and it continued until a vibrant red cardinal started to appear regularly near our home. I would hear his call and felt as if he was calling for me to look out the window, and I did. He would sit on his perch and stare directly at me through the window.
I decided to learn the call of the cardinal. While outside, I call for him and he calls back from a distance. Eventually he flies toward my direction and lands on a tree branch directly above my head. We continue calling back and forth for several minutes each day.
I believe it is my dad, mom and perhaps other family members who have passed on and were reaching out to me with their love and support until my grief had passed. I always feel so blessed when calling back and forth with this gorgeous red cardinal, and it has most certainly peaked my belief in the afterlife!
MY CARDINAL CONNECTION
In Memory of my Mother
Miamisburg, Ohio
I lost my mother several years ago and think of her often, especially during the spring and summer months as she loved flowers and nature. I have been struggling in my marriage and feel very lonely, often wishing my mother were still here for counsel.
It is wintertime here in Ohio and extremely cold outside. I was looking through my bedroom window while crying and suddenly a bold red cardinal landed on my tree. This glorious creature remained in the same spot for nearly two hours. For the past four days, the cardinal has visited me and rested in the same tree.
I have since learned that when cardinals appear, angels are near, which naturally made me think about my mom. I now have this beautiful cardinal connection that has given me an ability to feel God is always in my presence. I am certain that no matter how I may be feeling on any given day, I am truly never alone.
MY CARDINAL “PA”
In Memory of Larry “Pa” Thompson
Madisonville and Bowling Green, Kentucky
This past October marked the 20-year anniversary of my late grandfather’s passing. Not long after, my mom and I began to receive visits from a vibrant red cardinal. Immediately, I knew it was my late grandfather! He visited us often at our home in Madisonville and continues to visit us now at our home in Bowling Green.
We shared the spiritual meaning of red cardinals with my niece and then told her about our multiple Cardinal Experiences. She really enjoys looking for cardinals and other birds. She even helped my dad build a bird feeder which is now filled with seeds and hanging on a tree near my home.
While heading to the Nashville zoo one day with my mom, sister and niece, we noticed that a magnificent red cardinal was following us all along the way! This happened again when my parents and I took my niece to Dinosaur World in Cave City. It was incredible.
I believe in my heart that this was my grandfather’s way of letting us know he was still with us and would continue to watch over us! I really enjoy sharing these Cardinal Experiences with my niece because she never had an opportunity to meet her late great-grandfather.
MY CARING CARDINAL
In Memory of Dan Triezenberg
Orland Park, Illinois
I live in a condominium and always hear the birds chirping and singing, but never see them. My dear friend Kim created a bright and beautiful flower garden on my balcony for comfort while my son Dan was dying from Cancer.
One day while looking outside, I saw a gorgeous red cardinal resting on a bush near my balcony. He looked directly at me and then flew away. I felt it was a sign from God that Dan was going to Heaven soon, and it gave me such an overwhelming sense of peace. On this very same day although in Florida, my friend’s daughter had a red cardinal fly into her office building! He also looked directly at her and then flew away. This was yet another special message from the Lord that my son would soon be in Heaven.
Just two days later, my son lost his battle with Cancer.
I think of Dan often and miss his presence, but my caring cardinal has provided me with peace and comfort that will never leave my heart.
MY COMFORT CARDINALS
In Memory of Tina Robin Styles
Atlanta, Georgia
Almost 35 years ago, my youngest sister Tina left our home with a friend who had just received a new car. Tina was only 19 years old at the time. Several hours passed but she never returned home. Late that night, I received a telephone call and was told she had been killed in a car accident within 30 minutes after leaving our home. In that moment, I knew that life for my family would never be the same.
The very next morning, our backyard was overrun with both male and female cardinals! They were zipping back and forth while also chirping loudly. I was astonished by how many there were and watched them fly around fast and free for several minutes. I stood quietly and fully embraced this magical moment with my comfort cardinals.
All these years later, cardinals are still special to me, as they represent my many loved ones who have passed. Cardinals have impacted my life greatly, as they are a symbol of God's constant comfort, presence, love and care for His children!
MY DAY WITH DADDY
In Memory of Robert Wayne Robbins
Franklinville, North Carolina
My daddy was confined to a hospital bed in his living room and dying from cancer. I was holding his hand and talking to him, although he could not respond with words. His bed had been placed in his favorite spot near a window. As I was sitting by my daddy's bedside, a red cardinal flew onto the bush located near the window. The cardinal looked in directly at me as if it had something to say. I did not think much about the encounter until later the same day when I saw another red cardinal walking in the grass just outside the front door of my daddy's work garage.
These two events caused me to pause, which soon led to me to research the meaning of red cardinals. I quickly learned they are embraced as spiritual messengers sent by loved ones in Heaven.
Just a few days later, my daddy passed.
Every time a red cardinal visits me, I know that God has sent it to remind me of my day with daddy and to let me know he will always be with me.
MY DO-OVER
In Memory of Several Family Members
Glen Gardner, New Jersey
I am currently in 8th grade and have been experiencing significant changes in my life due to the mandated quarantines related to the global pandemic, Covid-19. The year-end school events were cancelled which was beyond disappointing. In late March and early April of 2020, I lost four family members, three of which were due to Covid-19. This has been an extremely challenging and devastating time for my entire family.
The days continued to pass, and it is already the middle of May. I spent some time having graduation photos taken while wearing the red cap and gown sent to me by the school. Afterwards, I sat down at our kitchen table to do the new “digital signing” of friend’s yearbooks. Suddenly, a red cardinal walked up to the sliding glass door and looked at me. It began pecking on the window and after a few minutes, flew away, so I went back to signing the yearbooks.
This morning I woke up and was thinking about the red cardinal and had a strong feeling about looking up what their meaning is. I did a quick search on the internet, discovered their spiritual significance, and immediately started to cry. I told my mom about the cardinal visiting me and told her that I needed a “do-over.” My mom said that she hoped it would come back. I prayed to God for the red cardinal to visit me again and then went to my bedroom to watch a few YouTube videos.
I opened the blinds in my bedroom, hoping the cardinal might come back. I sat down and started to watch YouTube videos, but was unable to stop thinking about the cardinal. I left YouTube and did another search for the spiritual meaning of cardinals. This time, I found the Caring Cardinals® website the Page where people share their Cardinal Experiences. I began to read one of the stories and suddenly a beautiful red cardinal landed on my window ledge. I was in total shock this time! I got up slowly and placed my hand on the window, but it caused the cardinal to fly away into the woods. I went outside to get a closer look, but it flew further away and high up into the sky. I said “goodbye” to the little redbird and began to pray, asking God to thank the angel who visited me. I also said aloud, “Whoever that was, I miss you and love you so very much!”
I am incredibly grateful for my “do-over” as it gave me the chance to appreciate the red cardinal’s presence as much as it deserved.
MY FATHER’S FLOCK
In Memory of Roman Vos
Butner, North Carolina
On May 15, 2016, my dear father passed away at four in the morning from Lung Cancer. During that morning, the hospice nurse was there and shortly afterwards he was transported to the funeral home for cremation.
Later in the afternoon, a flock of cardinals rested on a tree in the front of our home. They were there just momentarily, but of course their presence did not go unnoticed. There were several cardinals, just too many to count. I had never witnessed this before myself but heard others describe the very same thing. It was such a special and beautiful moment.
My father was quite the bird enthusiast, so I believe his memory was being honored by the cardinals or he was telling us through them that he was alright, and we should carry on as usual.
MY FLYING CAR-DINAL
In Memory of My Grandma
Kansas City, Missouri
Early in the morning on a Saturday, I drove to my mother’s home to take her grocery shopping. As I pulled into her driveway, I was thinking about my grandma who had also lived there but passed away about 12 years ago. Suddenly a bold red cardinal flew straight toward the driver side window, looked at me and then flew over the hood of my car. I sat there for several minutes and just cried. I had been thinking a lot about my grandma over the past few weeks and was missing her terribly.
Seeing the beautiful cardinal was so unexpected and certainly made me think about my late grandma. I feel so blessed and will never forget this special moment with my flying car-dinal.
MY GIFT FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Martin Heit
Long Island, New York
The Covid-19 Pandemic has made everyday life challenging for everyone, my family included. There are no words to describe the emotional grief and toll we have also endured over the past two months.
My Father, Martin Heit, was the kindest, most brilliant man any of us will ever know. In April of 2020, he passed unexpectedly after a new cancer treatment went awry, along with other contributing factors.
To say the world has lost immense knowledge would be an understatement. My father was nearly 90 years old and he was feeling perfectly fine just one week prior to his passing. He was talking about painting with his grandsons, spoke about my Mom (his wife of 68 years) and even his views on the pandemic and economy. He felt it would take many more months before things returned to normal. He said that he believed there will be a vaccine, just like there was for Smallpox. At the end of our long telephone call he said, “Okay, Maddy…Gonna hang up now.” After hanging up, I smiled and walked away. There was just so much love from this father to his daughter.
My father was no ordinary man. He was an inventor, a history buff, an artist, a Korean War veteran, had been a private pilot, photographic engineer and so much more. To us, he was superhuman, so it was with such overwhelming sadness that he was gone.
Fast forward to his birthday, which was July 4th. My family was to have gotten together, and I was trying my best to make it through the day. We had all been looking forward to celebrating his 90th, a birthday he so deserved to see. I even purchased a birthday balloon; a little something in his honor. As it was to have been his most special day, I felt completely depleted due to many tears. My husband and I happened to be out driving that July 4th, when the most beautiful red cardinal appeared, so we pulled over and stopped the car. We were blessed with this beautiful moment two months after my father passed.
I never expected a spiritual visitor and the cardinal turned out to be my gift from Heaven. I believe my father wanted to let me know that everything is alright now. I am so grateful for the small wonder of nature that gave me hope and shined a light when I thought there was none. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I experienced my father’s spirit that day. My husband feels the very same way. I want to bless this beautiful and sweet spiritual messenger bird, who will hopefully visit me again someday.
MY GRANDPARENTS GREETING
In Memory of Rita and Luther Thompson
Omaha, Nebraska
While helping my parents move everything out of the house that my beloved grandparents had lived in, I decided to work in the garden. I had just finished splitting some of my grandma's beautiful peonies so that we could transplant them at my parents' new home. While standing in the garden next to my grandma's statue of Mary, we discussed the best way to get it into the car as it was extremely heavy. Suddenly, a beautiful female cardinal flew so close to my head that I had to duck out of the way. I looked up and there was a male cardinal in the tree to my right and the female cardinal landed on a tree branch to my left. Both beautiful birds were less than six feet away. This was such an incredible moment that left me feeling as though my grandparents were saying hello.
MY KEVIN CARDINAL
In Memory of Kevin Jeffrey Clark
Maxton, North Carolina
I had the pleasure of loving a wonderful man named Kevin Clark. We were childhood boyfriend and girlfriend, and later got back together as grownups after Kevin's sweet mother Virginia passed. We loved each other dearly and always. We were together for 13 years until one morning Kevin's liver had failed. He was hospitalized and on life support for five days and passed on Mother’s Day in 2014 of liver failure.
I knew that my life would never be the same. I miss him dearly every day. As the one-year anniversary of my dear Kevin's passing approached, I started to notice a beautiful red cardinal in my yard and on my car. It visited me every day, early in the morning and late in the afternoon. The cardinal would rest in my trees, on my porch and occasionally at my side. I named it My Kevin Cardinal and talked to it often, because I am familiar with the spiritual meaning of the cardinal.
Six years have now passed, and my Kevin Cardinal is still here with me. I will never believe anything other than this is my Kevin looking, speaking, and watching over me. I look forward to seeing the cardinal every day, as it is a constant and beautiful reminder that my Kevin will always be with me.
MY LOVE
In Memory of David Murray
Des Moines, Iowa
My husband passed away on February 3 in 2017. Shortly thereafter, I sold my home and moved into an apartment in Des Moines. I had so many "visits" and dreams of him during the second year after his death, and they always provided me with strength. For some unknown reason, I stopped receiving the signs. I began to pray daily, asking him to visit or show me a special sign, but nothing happened.
Early one morning while saying my rosary, I noticed a bird near my balcony. The bird was repeatedly flying from one end to the other. It finally landed near my window, which enabled me to see that it was a female cardinal. I embraced the moment as a special sign from my loving husband who wanted to visit me in a unique way.
A few days later, I looked outside and noticed a spectacular red cardinal resting within the branches of a tree in full bloom. It seemed like it was resting there forever. I was completely mesmerized and unable to take my eyes off the cardinal. I even caught myself talking to it. While looking directly into the cardinal’s eyes, I asked, "Is that you, my love?”
In my heart, I know it was him. I felt it. I still look for the red cardinals often. I miss my husband very much, but now realize he will always be with me, just in many different ways.
MY MOLTING MESSENGER
In Memory of My Beloved Son and Daughter
Oak Ridge, Tennesee
I have a ground level patio in front of my house with a small garden. In 2019, I started to throw shelled peanuts into my garden for the birds. It is so enjoyable to watch the colorful variety of birds that come by for their daily treat.
One day I noticed a red cardinal that was chirping and seemed to be intentionally looking in my direction. I started talking to it and eventually, the cardinal flew over and landed on my outdoor table! This red cardinal became one of my absolute favorite daily visitors.
In late summer, my sweet little red friend lost his feathers and became very distinguishable due to a small area above his wing. This little patch never filled in with full feathers, so I always recognize when my molting messenger is nearby. It was such a delight to see him during the winter months!
It is now April and I have seen him every day this spring. This funny little redbird is really making me laugh with its territorial behavior.
It challenges all comers, especially any other cardinal. I often observe it chasing other birds with its head held low and wings extended widely! Once the area has been cleared, it moves around and flutters in my direction.
For several weeks, I left five peanuts on my outdoor table before going back inside. Once returning outside, I noticed that my little red friend had already enjoyed a couple of them. Any time I forgot to leave out the peanuts, “Mr. Hungrybird” would attack the container. Therefore, I am now very diligent with my routine of leaving out exactly five peanuts every day.
This handsome red cardinal is my molting messenger, and I am so grateful for the pure joy it gives me every day and throughout each season!
MY MOTHER’S MESSAGE
In Memory of Maria Magdalena
Winter Park, Florida
My mom passed a few days ago and I was not able to say goodbye. I have been feeling so guilty about not taking care of her, but she lived in Puerto Rico and I live in Florida.
Today I was looking outside from my balcony while crying. Suddenly, a beautiful red cardinal appeared, and I immediately thought about my mom. The cardinal appeared again later that afternoon.
I believe my mother wanted me to know that she is alright, and she is not suffering anymore. I sensed that she wants me to be strong and happy. I felt such immense comfort when the cardinal visited that I am planning to get a red cardinal tattoo!
I feel so blessed by the little visitor from Heaven and truly believe it was my mother!
MY MOTHER’S MESSENGER
In Memory of Anita Perlmutter
Houston, Texas
I worked in sales for a major website, and fortunately, they allowed me to work from home. My mother was living in New York and had just turned 90 in April. She was diagnosed with Dementia and was unable to live alone, so I moved her in with me in Texas so that I could care for her. We spent the next 2 1/2 lovely years together.
My mom’s Dementia worsened; she was barely able to speak and could no longer stand up. I made the difficult decision to place her into a nursing home where she lived for the last six months of her life. I visited my mom every two days. During my last visit on a Wednesday, she was not eating nor drinking which made me very worried. At the end of my visit, I kissed her forehead and whispered, “Ma I love you.” I left and had planned to visit her on Mother's Day with a special card.
Two days later, I was working at my desk which faced my front window. Suddenly I heard a loud banging on the window. I immediately looked up and observed a red cardinal grabbing onto the outside edge of the window. The bird was repeatedly banging onto the glass as if it were trying to tell me something. The cardinal had an angry expression on its face that haunted me. I had never seen a bird grab onto the window and act like that.
A few hours later I received a call from the nursing home that my mother was on her last breath and come quickly. When I arrived, she had already passed. I returned home, contacted my employer, and they gave me the day off. On this same day, I observed a young boy across the street (who I had never seen before) outside and playing a flute. This was the first and only day I ever saw and heard him play.
I had never heard about the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals until someone mentioned it to me. Over time, I started to hear more and more stories about other people’s Cardinal Experiences. I am bewildered and awe struck from what I experienced today with the red cardinal.
My mom was buried here in Houston while holding her Mother’s Day card and a rose. God bless you mom. Thank you for helping me so many times throughout my life. I miss you so much.
MY NEIRO
In Memory of Neiro
Belle Rose, Louisiana
My pet was recently attacked by a neighbor’s big dog, required surgery, returned home after six days in the hospital, but never made it through the night. Sadly, he died in my arms on the way to the hospital. The next day I drove home and was greeted by a gorgeous red cardinal resting on a tree branch. I knew instantly that it was my beloved Neiro letting me know that he crossed the rainbow bridge, and he was alright.
MY PROTECTOR
In Memory of Mooque Bishop
Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey
On November 6, 2020, my oldest son passed unexpectedly at age 33 from a pulmonary embolism.
Today while sitting on my porch and thinking about my beloved son, I observed baby cardinals and blue jays near one of my trees. I then looked down and saw a beautiful red cardinal. I had never seen a cardinal with such vibrant red feathers! I reached in my pocket to grab my cell phone and captured a photograph. The cardinal remained still and waited, as if it knew I was taking its picture. A few seconds later, the cardinal flew away into the sky. I remained there quietly and felt such a strong sense of peace. I believe my son finally reached out to me. He wanted me to know that he was with me and that he will ALWAYS be my protector.
MY RARE BIRD
In Memory of Joshua Egloff
Austin, Texas
In June 2018, my 22-year old son died instantly in a car accident. Our family and friends were in complete shock. I began to learn more about my son through his many friends and realized what a "rare bird" he really was. To this day, our entire family along with his friends are still grieving his loss. Josh liked to stand out in a crowd and was known for making sure everyone noticed him. He was incredibly fun and not at all arrogant.
Last Christmas I was still suffering from intense grief, so I would often work on jigsaw puzzles to try and help my mind to focus. I was working on a Christmas scene puzzle which featured a red cardinal.
I began reading the puzzle box which provided a variety of Christian meanings behind cardinals, colors and more. It explained that red is for the blood that Jesus shed for us. I found it very interesting and special that red cardinals are embraced as heavenly visitors.
A few days later, I was working on it again. I decided to take a little break and looked out the window just as a white bird flew nearby.
I was speechless as it looked like a white cardinal! I wondered if white cardinals even existed. I really wanted to capture its photo but did not have a camera nearby and did not want to look away.
I did some research and discovered that white "albino" cardinals do exist! I learned that there are about 1 out of 1,800 and most are "partial albino" with hints of pink, just like the one I saw. I felt something so special and remember perking up with internal joy!
I know that my son is in Heaven, yet his spirit is still here with us and shows up every now and then. As I say, Josh was very confident and always liked to be different. Thank you, my sweet Joshua for being my "rare bird" and standing out to remind me that your spirit is still here. I love you to Heaven and back, your mama.
MY SAINT LOUIS CARDINALS
In Memory of William Bennett
Lilburn, Georgia
My amazing dad died after a rough battle with prostate cancer, which was also during the Covid-19 pandemic. My dad refused to go to the hospital because visitors were not allowed because of the pandemic restrictions. As a result, my mom took care of my dad until the very end. I stayed over and helped them as much as possible. Caring for my dad was incredibly difficult for all of us.
On the morning that my dad passed, I went outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air. Almost immediately I observed two bright red cardinals flying around and hanging out in the yard. In that moment, I had an overwhelming feeling the cardinals were somehow connected to my dad.
Cardinals have continued to appear ever since and each time, I have the same wonderful feeling. So often, a red cardinal will appear unexpectedly, and it always seems to be when my dad would have wanted to be there as well! I love and miss him so much and will always appreciate every moment that a beautiful red cardinal appears.
There is also an ironic reason as to why red cardinals are now so special to me. Ever since my dad was a little boy, his favorite sports franchise was the Saint Louis Cardinals!
MY SHADOW
In Memory of Shadow
Arlington, Texas
I had a dog named Shadow for 14 years that I adopted from a shelter when he was two years old. My Shadow was a gray Schnoodle and he was a perfectly behaved dog with soulful brown eyes. However, he was very old and sick, so I had to make an incredibly difficult decision to let him go so that he could truly rest in peace. We made his last day so special, part of which included giving him a delicious cheeseburger. Thankfully, Shadow crossed the Rainbow Bridge very peacefully.
I lost my other dog Bingo to a stroke less than a year later. One day while having a conversation with my sister, she shared with me something I had never heard before; the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals. Ever since, I have prayed that I would see two cardinals together as it would be so comforting to know that Shadow and Bingo were together and at peace. It has been countless years since I have seen a cardinal in my backyard, but I remained hopeful.
The world is presently fighting a global pandemic known as Covid-19. I am a teacher and now quarantined at my home due to the school closings. Yesterday in the early evening, I was sitting on my sofa near our sliding glass door. I had been working on my laptop but decided to take a little break. I looked outside and was admiring how beautiful and peaceful it was. In that very moment, two red cardinals flew up to the fence! I stared out the window with my eyes wide open in shock as one of the cardinals lingered for several minutes. Bingo was always silly and darting around so
I imagined he was the cardinal that quickly flew away. My Shadow had to be the one that lingered. My prayers were finally answered … Shadow and Bingo are together!
Later that evening, I opened my “photos app” and received a reminder that read: “On This Day Last Year - March 29, 2019” which also featured a photograph of me holding Shadow on his last day. I sat there speechless and could not believe the beautiful red cardinal came to visit me on the exact anniversary of my Shadow’s passing. It was just unbelievable and truly made my Cardinal Experience more meaningful than ever!
MY SON TOMMY
In Memory of Tommy Murray
Nashua, New Hampshire
Today was a particularly rough morning as it has only been 3 1/2 weeks since my son Tommy passed away. I visited his workplace for the very first time yesterday, which was a far more emotional experience than I had expected.
My emotions have lingered into today. This morning, I was waiting in my car outside of a mechanic’s shop to pick up my husband. I was overcome with grief and found myself sobbing, wondering if my son knew just how much I loved him. From what I understand, when a parent loses a child there is always a level of guilt associated with their death, whether it is justified or not. This is something I struggle with daily on top of the grief from losing my child.
I continued to cry most of the way home while desperately trying to think of a way to keep myself distracted the remainder of the day. Shortly after arriving home, my cats began going crazy at our sliding glass door. I walked over and expected to see a squirrel on the deck, but instead saw several birds flying around in the back yard. I live in a townhouse, so it’s very likely a neighbor threw out birdseed or a few pieces of bread. There were a variety of birds, two of which were vibrant red cardinals that were chasing each other.
I did not view this as a sign from my son Tommy because I have
seen these beautiful red cardinals previously on several occasions.
I continued watching the birds and then suddenly a little baby cardinal flew up and sat on a branch right above my deck! It was so tiny compared to the adult cardinals that were flying around. This sweet little cardinal sat facing my sliding glass door long enough for me to take several photographs, and then he flew away.
I believe it was my baby, my son Tommy, who still lovingly called me Mommy at 31 years old.
*This heartwarming story was shared by Tommy’s Mommy. Her sister also shared a wonderful story which is named My Tommy.
MY SON WILL ALWAYS SHINE
In Memory of Ryan David Ervin
Durant, Oklahoma
One day in the early afternoon, I walked into our backyard to refill our bird feeder. It was a beautiful day and the sun was shining so brightly. While walking toward the bird feeder, I observed a bird resting on the grass. Once closer, I discovered it was a beautiful red cardinal. It did not move or fly away, so I carefully picked him up to make sure he was not injured. My husband captured a photograph because I felt nobody would believe I had an opportunity to hold a northern cardinal. I gently placed the cardinal back down onto the grass and sat down next to him. He remained just a few inches away from my feet for the next 40 minutes before flying off into the bright blue sky.
Red cardinals are very special to me because nineteen years ago, I lost my son when he was only eight years old. He had made a birdhouse out of a milk jug, and a male cardinal was the first bird to land inside of it.
This was the most magical blessing I have ever experienced. I believe this was my son letting me know that everything was going to be alright and he will always be with me.
MY SOULMATE
In Memory of Karen L. Howard
Gilman, Illinois
My Wife, who was my soulmate, passed away on March 16, 2022. Her death has devastated me, and I have felt completely lost ever since.
Today, May 21, 2022, I walked into our kitchen and looked outside through one of the windows. I stood motionless as my eyes fell upon a gorgeous red cardinal resting on the frame of our patio swing that my wife loved so much! The cardinal looked directly at me for a few minutes and then flew off into the trees in our backyard.
I truly believe this special moment was a visit from my beloved wife who wanted to tell me that she is alright and will be waiting on the other side for me when I pass on. I am not normally a believer of spiritual signs from Heaven, but this Cardinal Experience felt so real. I had an overwhelming sense that it was my beautiful wife telling me "I am alright; please live your life and I will be in Heaven awaiting you when your time on Earth is through”.
MY SWEET PAPA
In Memory of Leo Hobbs
Gassville, Arkansas
I am so blessed to still see and feel the presence of my beloved papa after his passing. Every day, the same bold red cardinal rests on my bird feeder and looks directly at me as if to say hello and to let me know he will always be with me.
It always gives me joy to quietly observe the cardinal, even when it flies out of sight.
Bryson misses you too. Love you, papa.
MY THIRD BLESSING
In Memory of Zane Trachta
Bridgeport, Texas
On December 15, 2022, I lost my youngest son Zane in a car accident. As a mother this was my worst nightmare, which I prayed to never endure.
Zane’s funeral was on December 21st. Our family and friends joined together in a beautiful church to honor Zane’s memory and say our goodbyes. Upon returning home, I received a text message and photo from my oldest brother. The message explained that his Game Cam captured a photo at 3:33pm on December 15th, which was very close to the time of my son’s passing. The photo revealed a gorgeous red cardinal flying while looking directly into the Game Cam. This was just unbelievable to me, and I was overwhelmed with emotion. The date and time gave me no doubts that Zane was telling me he was safe and at peace.
The cardinal image was captured at 3:33pm. I was born in Anchorage, Alaska at 3:33pm. The number 3 has always been my lucky number. I have 3 sons and Zane was my 3rd son. All my sons have known that the number 3 has been special to me, so this was a beautiful way for Zane to communicate with me, and to reassure me that he is truly at peace.
The Game Cam captured the most beautiful photo I have ever seen, and I love that the cardinal is looking directly into the camera. God is so good, and my heart is filled with peace, because I know He will take care of him for me until I am up there to wrap my arms around him again one day.
MY TOMMY
In Memory of Tommy Murray
Dracut, Massachusetts
I lost Tommy just three weeks ago. My pain, sadness, and emptiness are still so very fresh and raw. Tommy is my godson and nephew, but he has always felt like the son I never had. He is my sister’s son and my parents’ grandson, but in all honestly, he is a son to our entire family. As you can tell by my words, I am not yet ready to speak of Tommy in the past tense.
A few days ago, my father found an unopened Christmas card in Tommy’s nightstand and it was addressed to “Auntie Dee” which is me. As I held the card close to my chest while sitting at my parents’ kitchen table, I closed my eyes and was thinking about Tommy. I fought an onslaught of tears and was not at all ready to open the
card. For some reason I glanced up and looked outside through a small kitchen window. Suddenly, a vibrant red cardinal fluttered by, just long enough to catch my eye. I quickly jumped up and pulled my parents along to look outside through the kitchen window … and there it was. A stunning red cardinal was walking among the twigs and branches in the backyard!
My Tommy came to us in a time of need just three short weeks after his “resting.”
My parents were not familiar with the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals, so I did my best to define a Cardinal Experience. Truth be told, prior to this experience, I was not a believer in Cardinal Experiences, but MY TOMMY came through and here I am!
Thank you, Tommy, for giving us this gift. I love you, bud!
*This heartwarming story was shared by Tommy’s loving aunt. Tommy’s mother also shared a wonderful story which is titled “My Son Tommy.”
MY WINDOW WATCHER
In Memory of Douglas Judge Sr.
Scranton, Pennsylvania
My dad always loved bird watching, and his favorite birds were northern cardinals.
He often said to me that when he was no longer here on earth with me, I would never wonder if he was watching over us from Heaven.
My dad had a life-saving surgery on November 1, 2017 to repair an abdominal
aortic aneurysm. The surgery was successful, but he never seemed to regain strength. On December 16, 2017 he was admitted to the ICU in a Philadelphia hospital where he had another surgery performed. He had developed serious infections in the artery and for the next 29 days fought hard to recover, but he lost
his fight on January 14, 2018. While he was fighting to recover after the December surgery, my siblings and I traveled three hours almost daily to be with him. We also wanted to make sure my mom was by his side as well.
It was a Sunday morning when I stood by my dad’s bedside and held his hand as he took his last breath. I left the hospital for the last time and drove home while holding my mom's hand the entire way.
Two days passed by and I woke up in the morning with my first anxiety attack. I had no idea what was happening at the time. I had no control over my emotions, was unable to stop shaking, had difficulty breathing, and felt extremely scared. The only thing I could do was pray. I prayed for God to send me a spiritual sign that my dad was with me. A couple minutes later, I heard the beautiful sound of a bird singing and looked outside my window. My eyes feel upon a bright red cardinal that was resting on the bracket of our awning. I remained still while the cardinal looked directly at me! In that very moment, I knew without any doubt that my dad will always be with me.
NANA’S VISIT
In Memory of Roberta Marie Davis
Augusta, Georgia
My daughter Roberta was at her house with her husband and one
of their grandsons when suddenly a red cardinal appeared at their front door. The cardinal was looking through the screen door as if it wanted to go inside her home. She called out to her husband and grandson so that they could see the cardinal. While they all stood quietly watching, she told them the cardinal was her beloved Nana visiting. My grandson spoke to his great grandma for a few minutes before she flew away.
This was not the first time my daughter observed the cardinal on
her front porch, but it was a new experience for her husband and grandson. This made my daughter extremely happy that she was able to share this beautiful moment with them.
NANNY’S SONG
In Memory of Gert McGrath
Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Earlier this week I lost my grandma and the last few days have been
harder than expected. I was feeling badly and began hoping for a spiritual sign from Heaven. A few minutes later, a female cardinal landed on my front porch and began to chirp, and it sounded like a beautiful song.
This incredible moment that I experienced today helped me tremendously. This was the exact type of sign that I needed from my grandma!
NATURE’S BEAUTY
In Memory of Chuck Ward
Fort White, Florida
My dad passed in August of 2018 from a rare and aggressive form of dementia. This dementia took my dad from a completely independent and capable individual to being fully dependent and needing 24-hour care within only one year’s time. My father passed in just under 2 years after his diagnosis. We did not even have a formal diagnosis until 4 months prior to his death. Most of those two years were spent in a whirlwind of complete chaos and confusion. Every day I struggled knowing that we were not facing Alzheimer’s, but it was similar as he was forgetting executive function, not people. What was happening to him, and why was it was happening so rapidly are questions that haunted me daily.
After my father’s passing, I went through a complete spiritual overhaul with my grief. I learned much during that timeframe and am still learning so much even today. My dad has sent me several undeniable spiritual signs beginning two days after his death. While my ego tried to explain them away, my heart knows them for what they really are.
In August of 2020, I was diagnosed with cancer. I had surgery that month but six weeks later, there were already new growths at the surgical site. My care team decided to take a “watch and wait” approach, against my wishes, and planned to reevaluate six months from my six week follow up, which is scheduled on June 8th. During this period of waiting, I feel the tumor growing and my symptoms have returned. This is where things get complex…
Over the past few weeks, I have frequently observed a red cardinal near my home. The cardinal often exchanges whistles back and forth with me. Up until now, I have been blind to the beauty of nature. I feel as though there was something very unusual, special, and significant about this cardinal and its interaction with me. I thought of my dad instantly after forming this cardinal connection but did not know if there was meaning behind it.
While shopping one day, a woman approached me claiming to be a medium. She told me that my dad was coming through to her with an urgent message for me. She said that I should not accept the care plan given for my cancer. She told me I was sick and that deep in my heart, I knew that. She insisted that my dad was saying to get a second opinion. This message came from a place of concern and love, which motivated me to start looking into it.
Over the past month I have had four complete strangers reach out to me with messages from my dad. It has been mind-blowing to say the least. As a result of these experiences, I scheduled an appointment with a professional medium. Once again, my ego was getting in the way and trying to explain away these completely random events.
During my session, the medium asked me if I had had any experiences with a cardinal lately and I sat there in complete shock. That very day I had captured an incredible video of my beautiful cardinal exchanging chirps with me. She told me that my dad was with me and planned to stay with me, knowing that I need him right now. The medium’s mention of a cardinal would have been far less significant if I was still out of tune with nature.
This new connection to nature has been present for only a week. The interaction between the cardinal and myself has already had a profound impact on me, both spiritually and emotionally. This is the reason it gave incredible meaning to the cardinal being mentioned by the medium.
I am choosing to take all the other incidents more seriously. I am actively seeking a second opinion regarding my cancer. While I will still go to my appointment on June 8th, I intend on having a “Plan B” in place, regardless.
All in all, I believe that I will be alright in the end. I have my dad and the beautiful cardinal to thank for I had lost all faith regarding my health care team and was tired of fighting them. Years down the road, I will get to watch my kids meet major milestones in life. I will never stop thanking my dad and the striking red cardinal for lending me the opportunity.
As I sit here writing all of this, the beautiful cardinal is in the tree next to me happily singing away. Nature’s beauty is beyond measure.
NEST OF LOVE
In Memory of Ronald Lee Duvall
Ocala, Florida
My father’s passing was one of the hardest experiences I’ve endured so far in my lifetime. I have faith and consider myself a Christian, but after watching my father die, I’ve wondered if my dad went to Heaven. I found myself wondering if my dad can he hear me when I talk to him and is he always nearby.
It is true that over time, the loss of my father became a little more bearable. I am not as depressed, but I still think about him and miss him every day. Sometimes I hear a song or smell a scent that reminds me of him, which causes me to burst into tears.
A few weeks ago, I was sitting on my patio having coffee and I noticed a female cardinal building her nest in a shrub that was just five feet away. Each morning during coffee time, I watched her bring bits and pieces to build a nest. Soon after, the beautiful female cardinal laid three light blue speckled, eggs. The mother bird sat on her eggs daily and less than two weeks later, two of the eggs hatched. I was able to capture photos of the eggs and nestlings each day! Finally, the third egg hatched, revealing three freakishly, yet adorable, newborn cardinal nestlings. The male cardinal joined its mate and helped feed their babies.
One day while observing the cardinal family, I remembered that cardinals appear when our Angels are nearby. I did not understand why an entire cardinal family was brought to me, but then it dawned on me that my mother and father had three kids,
me being the middle child.
Each new day I peeked into the shrub and captured a photo of the cardinal nestlings.
I was careful to not touch anything to ensure the baby birds would continue to be cared for by their parents. One of the babies stood out from the other two; it was always awake and had its mouth open, ready to be fed. This same cardinal grew a little faster as well.
Today the fledglings left their nest! I watched mom and dad dance around the shrub on the ground as if to say, “It’s alright to come out now!” The fledgling that was the most eager moved to the back of the shrub, sat on a branch, and looked directly at me. This adorable fledgling did not flinch when I slowly walked closer to say hello.
I continued talking to the baby cardinal in a soft voice while it stared at me. The other two fledglings made their way down and out of the bush. Meanwhile, I continued talking to the third baby cardinal and it was even chirping back at me. This was the most beautiful gift I have ever witnessed in my life!
I decided to look up the meaning of cardinals and found the CARING CARDINALS® website. If the spiritual symbolism of cardinals is true, I believe that my dad is still with me. It was truly amazing to observe each moment in nature with the cardinal family.
I love that not one of the birds ever seemed fearful when I was nearby. I truly believe this was a sign from my dad to let me know he is always near and still feels my love!
NESTING IN PEACE
In Memory of Randall Franklin Register
Singer Island, Florida
I have been fortunate enough to have the same pair of cardinals building nests all around my property for a few years now. During the first year, our landscapers accidentally cut down one of the nests that was holding nestlings. I brought them inside and cared for them even though my boyfriend is frightened of birds.
The following year, the cardinals built their nest directly behind our fence. It was in an area that I often like to sit outside on a beautiful day.
This year they built their nest in my Gardenia bush. Fortunately, the nest is located at eye level which allows me to observe the nest from a distance and capture photographs. I feel so privileged for the opportunity to watch the cardinal babies grow!
I have three Chihuahuas and believe they made the nest inside the Gardenia bush for a reason! My dogs roam freely in the yard and will therefore keep predators away, such as cats and possum.
When I see a red cardinal, it reminds me of my late father who was murdered when I was only eight years old. I never knew him due to an unfortunate situation with my mother who died unexpectedly.
I recently had a near death experience and the biggest was when I contracted double pneumococcal pneumonia. I was put on a ventilator for eight days and my family was told that it was unlikely I would make it through the first night. I remember seeing my mother, my spirit guide, and even Jesus himself. My mother was shaking me while I was on the floor of an ambulance and saying, “It is not time! It is not your time yet! Wake up!” The spirit guide was a black wolf with yellow fiery eyes, and it led me through tall wet grass under a fence to help me escape. I fought hard and thankfully survived.
Seeing the cardinals provides ongoing, peaceful reminders of my parents and grandparents who are all in Heaven. I feel so incredibly blessed that this cardinal pair chose my property and it gives me such joy to see them nesting in peace.
NEVER ALONE
In Memory of Amy Hagiwara
Mililani, Hawaii
My sister Amy passed in 1997 when she was just 10 years old. She had suffered brain damage due to a virus when she was a baby, and even though she was 10 years old when she died, she was still basically a baby developmentally. We always knew she would have a shortened life span due to her brain damage, but her sudden death while sleeping was completely unexpected. I was only 14 years old when Amy passed.
Shortly after her death, a red cardinal took up residence in a tree outside of our home. My parents and I were not familiar with the spiritual significance of red cardinals at the time, but we instinctively knew Amy must have sent the beautiful bird to us. Red cardinals have continued to return every year, and to this day I can identify their call.
I now have my own home which is just a few miles from where my parents live. After a few years, red cardinals eventually found me at my new home as well. Amy has even branched out by sending me other red cardinal "signs" including a crossword clue and answer, a postcard of a red cardinal appearing directly in my field of vision at a gift shop, and even sent a red cardinal to my reiki master's dream to use him for passing along a message to me! She also sent a red cardinal to me all the way to Sedona, Arizona when I was there for a spiritual retreat last year!
Amy always seems to send a red cardinal when I need spiritual support, and I always feel comforted by them. Each red cardinal is a beautiful reminder that even when I feel alone, I am not. I feel so blessed to have Amy and so many other loved ones who provide me with ongoing support from the other side.
NEW BEGINNINGS
In Memory of Covid-19 Victims
Hillsborough, North Carolina
This is not your usual Cardinal Experience, but I felt so compelled to share it and hope it provides you with peace and the hope of new beginnings!
My boyfriend and I have been dating for over a year now. He is from New Zealand and I and from the United States. On the day after Thanksgiving in 2020, his Visa expired, and he was forced to return home to New Zealand. He left with me not knowing when or if I would ever see him again.
He is a professional soccer player and we both waited patiently with the hope that he would be offered a contract here in the United States. Days and weeks turned into five months that passed without news, without a contract offer, and as it seemed, without hope.
I moved back home to be with my family. Each day apart from my boyfriend has had its fair share of uncertainty, lonely nights, sadness, and wondering when will this end. I decided to apply for a Visa to New Zealand a month ago but have yet to hear any news. Each day I present and leave my future in God’s hands.
Last night I had an unusual feeling that something good was going to happen. Much to my surprise, I received a letter from New Zealand Immigration stating that no decision had been made at that time, but they would make a formal decision within 15 days if I could provide them with additional documentation. While it was not a “yes or no” it was finally something that filled me with hope that I might finally be reunited with the person I love most who is across countries and oceans.
This morning I prayed for discernment and direction. While standing in my driveway, I called my best friend to share the news with her and asked that she pray for me. She then asked me, “Do you feel peace about your situation?” I paused and suddenly, a bright, beautiful, red cardinal landed on my fence directly in front of me.
I remained silent and it then flew right in front of me. I then simply responded to her with “yes.” The entire time I was on the phone, the cardinal was there. I felt so strongly that the Holy Spirit was near, and I knew that He was with me.
Since this magical moment, I have learned that red cardinals are symbolic of new beginnings and they are also spiritual messengers sent by loved ones in Heaven. At this time, it is still unknown to me whether I will receive the Visa and be reunited with the love of my life. We have been separated by oceans, countries, closed borders, and a global pandemic. Hope and Faith remain in my heart that He will bless me with a new beginning. I felt a strong need to share my story and reassure others that they are not alone, no matter what they are going through during this incredibly challenging pandemic. God’s plans are perfect, and I am praying that you will be blessed with your own Cardinal Experience just as I received mine. I know He is near, He is working, He is present, and He is with you.
NEW PATH OF LIFE
In Memory of Maybelline, Marguerite, Dottie and children, Shirley and Floki,
and all my fur babies
Carthage, North Carolina
I lived in a camper with several pets for two years but had to move in with my parents after my father suffered a stroke. I felt heartbroken to leave behind my pets and little haven. Tragedy struck and my animals disappeared. For the following three years I was unable to go back into my camper.
I was in a relationship with a wonderful man for five years, but for some reason, things felt off. I recently met a man who wanted to purchase my camper, and every time he would stop by, a red cardinal would land on one of the windows. Also, each time I went to my camper, a red cardinal would be in the yard. Prior to these sightings, I always felt a dark cloud glooming over me. Ever since meeting this new, wonderful man, a red cardinal would appear during each of his visits, and I felt my sorrow disappear. I never believed in spiritual signs, but he explained to me that the red cardinal was a spiritual sign from Heaven.
Perhaps this seems insignificant to those who have lost human loved ones, but my pets were my children and they provided me with immense comfort. My greatest sorrow was losing them, and I had experienced such overwhelming sadness with their absence each time I went back to my little haven.
Maybe God chose a different path for me through this new person, as I have recently learned that red cardinals are also signs of a complete and monogamous relationship. I believe that God and my fur babies in Heaven are telling me it is alright to let go and be happy on my new path of life.
NOT SO CAMERA SHY
In Memory of Cheryl Stout and Angie Davidson
Harrisburg, Illinois
Early one morning around 5 am, I heard the strangest noise coming from the direction of a window located toward the back of my house. I wondered what the sound was while walking in that direction. As I looked outside, there was a bright red cardinal trying to get closer to the window while releasing a high-pitched sound!
A few days later, I heard the same sound and immediately knew it was one of two angels – my mother or my sister. I quickly walked over to the window and there were two red cardinals trying desperately to get my attention. My heart smiled so big.
About a week later, I received a “movement” notification from the security camera that monitors the front of my home. I immediately checked the footage and on my front porch were two red cardinals, chirping loudly and taking turns flying into the camera! I felt incredibly loved and so happy at how relentless they were with their efforts to get my attention.
I have daily conversations with my mother and sister. I even had a dream last night about my sister and she looked so beautiful. I woke up this morning and both red cardinals were on my front porch, once again alternating their flight patterns into the camera and chirping very loudly. I think it is safe to say that my mother and sister are not so camera shy, which leaves me feeling very blessed!
NURTURED BY NATURE
In Memory of Doug Campbell
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Two days after my daughter got married, I was sitting at home when a baby bird flew into my sliding glass door. I looked out the window and observed a male and female cardinal were perched on the divider fence on my balcony, and quickly realized they were the fledgling’s parents. They must have been guiding and protecting their baby who was learning how to fly. The cardinal pair watched so devotedly and stood close as the fledgling attempted a couple more times to fly. Finally, it was strong enough to fly on its own.
My daughter’s father passed about four years ago. Observing the cardinal parents and fledgling felt as though this was a sweet message of nurturing and caring to show me that our daughter had taken wings of her own and had flown away strong and loved.
OUR ANGEL
In Memory of Annette Bryson
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
For the past two weeks, my sister-in-law Annette was hospitalized with COVID-19.
Annette was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at age three. At the age of 60 and after a 2-year waiting period, Annette was finally gifted with a Kidney and Pancreas transplant. My wife Janet went to New Jersey after Annette’s surgery and provided three weeks of care and companionship during her recovery.
A few months later we received wonderful news from Annette that her doctor declared she was no longer diabetic! Annette was still required to take antirejection drugs which probably meant she was in a compromised state.
We became extremely concerned after hearing that she was hospitalized with the coronavirus. Two weeks had passed, and she was still in the hospital. One day we observed a female cardinal hovering outside and pecking at our window. Seconds later, we received a telephone call from a doctor in New Jersey who informed us that Annette’s organs were failing. A few days later, the female cardinal was again fluttering around our window. Immediately afterwards, we received a telephone call from a medical professional in New Jersey who informed us that Annette had just passed. It was April 24, 2020 when the Lord ended her suffering. The following morning, my wife walked downstairs and witnessed the same female cardinal resting on the window ledge and looking inside our home.
Perhaps we were unknowingly in touch with Annette or their late mother, Ma. We believe in our hearts it was the good Lord sending us a spiritual message to let us know that our angel, Annette is now resting peacefully.
OUR CHRISTMAS CARDINAL
In Memory of James Kuffel
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
My father passed away on Christmas Eve five years ago. Christmas was his favorite holiday and cardinals were his favorite bird. It is no surprise to me that his favorite color was red!
Around the time of his passing while we were at his home, there was a gorgeous red cardinal hanging around all by itself. I was so surprised when the cardinal allowed me to get close enough to capture its photograph and I will cherish those photos forever.
A couple months later, on Valentines’ Day, we held a Celebration of Life to honor my wonderful father. We went back to his home and there was another red cardinal. It was incredibly special to see another red cardinal because I had been looking for them since his passing but never saw one.
When you see a red cardinal, you can just feel when it is a loved one in Heaven visiting you. Other times it is just so incredibly peaceful to see a redbird in nature!
OUR LISA
In Memory of Lisa Sheridan
Saint Petersburg, Florida
I heard a bird singing outside in the morning shortly after hearing the news that a classmate from college had passed at the age of 45. The sound was filled with high notes and beautiful sounds. In that moment, the cardinal’s song caught my attention, causing my head to slowly turn and look through a small garage window. I walked towards the window, looked up and out towards the trees and there it was. I saw the bird. It was a bright red cardinal with its chest held out and was full of life. I believe the cardinal was Lisa or a spiritual message sent directly from her to exclaim, “Tell the others I’m OK. Look at me now!”
Institutionally, all I could do was raise my hand to touch the glass in acknowledgement that her message was received. I then sat down at my kitchen table and wrote this poem:
Redbird
This morning I heard you passed
I heard a birdsong
Sounding through the window
My hands touched the glass
There you were
Redbird
Bold and beautiful
Triumphant and jubilant
Our sweet bird of youth
Our Lisa
May sweetness always be in your heart
Now resting in the light
OUR LITTLE PETIRROJO
In Memory of Renato Chavez Garcia
Lima, Peru
My son Renato passed on the 13th day of April in 2017 at 19 years of age. Renato had been fighting a rare form of cancer for just over a year. One of my three sisters, Carmen, who lives in Texas, told me a story of a cardinal visiting her the day before he died. She was at her son’s school talking to the receptionist when she pointed and said, “Look behind you.” That was our first cardinal sighting. Carmen told me the story after I asked her to create a cardinal bookmark to give out as a favor for those attending Renato’s first month mass. The bookmark reads: “I might lose battles, but I will not lose my faith, nor the will to keep going with my God.”
As Catholics who live in Perú, it is customary to celebrate a loved one during a mass one month following their passing. While the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals is not commonly known here in Peru, I liked the idea of remembering Renato through cardinals from that point forward.
“Whenever you see me, I’ll remind you that I am fine.”
In the beginning it was just a beautiful little cardinal story, but cardinal visits soon became a beloved tradition for our entire family.
In April 2017, Carmen came to Lima for the funeral and was going to stay for just a few days, until a serendipitous incident changed her plans. On Friday, when it was time to go to the airport, she was unable to find her passport which would allow her to return to the United States. A couple days prior, she had given her carry-on bag to her daughter Alex to use because her bag was in no condition for traveling. (All I will say about this is that Alex has a mischievous cat! You can imagine the rest.)
Carmen looked everywhere but was unable to find her passport. She called Alex in Chicago and learned that it was indeed inside the carry-on bag. This was shocking as my sister is a little OCD and always checks the pockets whenever she empties her bags. She tried expediting shipping from Chicago, but it was impossible, so she had to apply for a temporary passport the following Monday.
Carmen offered to help me clean Renato’s room, which would not have happened had she flown back home as planned. That weekend my three sisters (Rossi, Betty, and Carmen) joined me and we put ourselves to work with cleaning Renato’s room. We spent the entire weekend together and even had some time to get ourselves pampered.
On Monday, I received a call from Carmen when she was leaving the consulate after picking up her passport. She asked me, “Pila, guess what I saw in the consulate!” I promptly answered, “The cardinal.” Carmen replied, “Yes, a little red cardinal flying from branch to branch and chirping loudly. It was such a happy cardinal!”
A couple of weeks later which was May that same year, a red cardinal appeared to my sister Betty when she opened her kitchen window. It was a loud bird call that sounded like a whistle. Betty ran and called her daughter Jessica, and both went outside to record the cardinal with their cell phones. The neighbors thought they were attempting to catch Pokémon!
We call the cardinal ‘petirrojo’ in Spanish. The ‘petirrojo’ continued to appear at family events such as the Baptism of my sister’s grandson who was born a few weeks after Renato died. It visited my older sister Rossi at her house when we had a family gathering and at my cousin Patty’s home on her birthday. It went to the beach to see little Luisma and appeared for Renato’s girlfriend on the streets of Lima. The ‘petirrojo’ even made it to Chicago to visit Alex and Nico at their new apartment.
A ‘petirrojo’ follows me on my long walk through the Olive Grove Park when I go to work. It is always flying and singing, making an obvious effort for me to notice it. A ‘petirrojo’ also shows up at a sports facility where I have a basketball league and where Renato used to be the referee.
During the current Covid-19 pandemic, it comes to the park in front of my mother’s house where I also live. Sometimes it visits with a friend and we would like to believe it is my father, whom Renato was close with.
When do we see cardinals in Lima, Peru with this frequency? Never. Lima’s climate is a desert with a polluted city. The cardinal’s appearance has also come along with so many other incredible things, like the flowers I received on Mother’s Day one month after Renato’s passing. They were delivered by a stranger with a big smile saying they are from someone who loves you very much. To this day, I have no idea who sent the flowers.
It may seem something overstated, but since Renato’s death, the cardinal has been with us at countless places and on numerous occasions. I feel the cardinal is my Renato’s soul and why I feel his presence. The cardinal always helps me to remember that I am not alone and that he will always be our little ‘petirrojo’ watching over us.
OUR PEACEFUL GOODBYE
In Memory of Ann E Fiordaliso
Brooklyn, New York
My mom was in the hospital due to an incident that occurred at her nursing facility. On May 17, 2020, my sister called me early in the morning and told me the hospital called. They had been attempting to reach her since the prior day and said we needed to get down there right away.
I immediately went outside to walk my dog before leaving. Moments later, a beautiful red cardinal appeared on the sidewalk just a few feet away from me. I stopped and it remained there while looking toward the ground. I wondered if it was a sign from my late father, urging me to get to the hospital quickly or if it was my mother saying goodbye.
When we arrived at the hospital, my mother was not alert and was in the active stage of dying. We said goodbye and thankfully do know that she heard us. My kids were also there and had an opportunity to see her. I gently expressed to my mom that she could rest now and be with dad. We wished her a heartfelt goodbye, then I whispered to her that it was alright for her to go. Just moments after my oldest daughter arrived in the room, the doctor came in and told us that my mother had passed. We felt such a true sense of peace knowing that my mom waited for all of us to say goodbye.
It is my now my belief that the cardinal I observed earlier that morning was my mom saying, “I will wait for your peaceful goodbye.”
OUR VIENNA
In Memory of Vienna
Doylestown, Pennsylvania
We recently lost our Doberman Pinscher Vienna. She was the love of our family's lives. She died this past Monday of lymphoma and was only 8 years old. Our sweet Vienna left us much too soon. We were, and still are, completely devastated.
Just last night, while my wife, daughter and I were watching television, we were also talking about our Vienna and how much we missed her. I expressed to my wife that I hope dogs go to Haven when they die, because I want to see our Vienna again someday. Less than a minute later, a beautiful female cardinal landed on our deck table in the backyard.
I immediately said to my daughter, “Did you just see that? It was a female cardinal!”
She acknowledged that she did see the female cardinal, then asked, "You know what seeing a cardinal means, don't you dad?"
I honestly had no idea and told her “no.”
She then said, “God sends a cardinal from Heaven to let you know that your loved one is alright.”
I did not believe it. My daughter said, "If you don't believe me, Google it.”
I immediately Googled the meaning of cardinal visits and was in complete shock to discover that they are in fact embraced as spiritual messengers sent by loved ones in Heaven. The shock I felt when learning this is still with me! My daughter was right.
I realize that the cardinal was not red, but it was still a beautiful female cardinal and we believe this was a spiritual sign sent by our Vienna from Heaven. We miss her terribly and are still devastated, but also have a true sense of faith knowing that our Vienna is alright.
OUR WORLD INCLUDES HEAVEN
In Memory of Barbara Ellen Johnson
Jackson, Mississippi
Many people believe that a red cardinal symbolizes a loved one who has passed away. Some also believe when you see one, you are being visited by your loved one in Heaven. My mom would say this quite often, but I never realized just how serious she was about her beliefs. She would often see a red cardinal and tell me it was her mother whom we called “Grandmere.”
After my mom passed away in March of 2016, I naturally looked for red cardinals in our yard. I saw several, but they did not make me feel any better. A few days after her passing, my wife and I arrived home after attending church. As we entered through our front door, a gorgeous red cardinal flew inside our home right along with us! Several minutes later, my wife was able to gently capture the sweet little redbird in a blanket. We captured a photograph and quickly released him outside.
I never claimed to understand everything in life, but this event made me realize that our world includes Heaven.
PAPPY’S PRESENCE
In Memory of William Cipra
Rilton, Pennsylvania
About 10 years ago I lost my grandfather, which was heartbreaking as he was my
best friend. We were inseparable. My grandfather called me his “Little Sweet Cheeks”. We always watched the birds together, and he taught me all about gardening and the outdoors.
Years ago, my grandfather told my father (his son) that I have a special talent for singing and he was going to help me show everyone. The first time I sang was at his funeral in honor of him. I now use singing as a special way to remain connected to my grandfather.
Cardinals have been one of the only things that have helped me while grieving.
I normally see cardinals while I am driving, but they also visit my home and rest in a tree or a bush. I miss my grandfather more than anything in the world and feel so grateful for every cardinal that crosses my path.
I have seen a cardinal every single day since losing my grandfather, but never paid attention to how much I was seeing them until recently. While taking my Driving Test,
a beautiful red cardinal landed on one of the barrels while I was parallel parking. In that moment, I knew that my grandfather was there watching over me. The cardinal rested on the barrel the entire time I parallel parked. I broke down into tears as I could feel his presence with me.
To this day, whenever a cardinal appears, I always say, “Thank you, Pappy; I know you are here.” Cardinals have truly helped me to get through many tough situations.
I will always be my grandfather’s “Little Sweet Cheeks” and he will always be my cardinal. I love you, Pappy!
PARENTAL BLESSING
In Memory of Janet W. Bussie and William H. Bussie Jr.
Fort Mill, South Carolina
My mom lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on March 19, 2018. I have truly struggled with my grief after losing her. On January 20, 2020, my dad had a massive heart and died.
I traveled from my father’s home in Charleston back to my home in Fort Mill. The day before my dad’s memorial service, I woke up and was overwhelmed with sadness. While crying uncontrollably, I asked for a sign to reassure me that my parents were alright and that my brother and I would be okay as well.
I walked outside to the backyard and was speechless, as there before me were several male and female cardinals resting on our fence! They showed no signs whatsoever of fearing my presence. One of the red cardinals flew over near me and landed on top of the grill. He stared at me for the longest time and I remained still while this incredible moment consumed my heart. Several minutes passed by before they flew away.
I have never seen so many cardinals together in my entire life.
I know that my mom and dad wanted to tell me they were alright
and that we would be okay too. Although I had prayed for a sign,
this was so unexpected and the most incredible parental blessing
I could ever imagine!
PARENTAL PEACE
In Memory of Darlene and Manuel Buck
Smyrna, Tennessee
I lost my father in May of 2011, and I lost my mother in March of 2020. Shortly before my father passed, we discussed and agreed that I should take care of my mother until he could do it again. My mother passed and a few days later, two beautiful cardinals appeared in our front yard. The cardinals returned every day for a week straight and then went along their way. I embraced the cardinal visits as a spiritual sign that mother and father are finally together again and are at peace in Heaven.
PASSENGER FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Silvia Eberhardt
Winter Garden, Florida
One day I was loading my car which required several trips in and out of my house.
At the time, I was in tears from chronic pain that was brought on by my breast cancer treatments. I suffer every day with severe pain which is often unbearable. I walked outside and toward my car with the last load and climbed in. Much to my surprise, there was a passenger from Heaven inside my car! A red cardinal was resting on top of my dashboard. This cardinal was Heaven sent. I believe with all my heart that it was my mother trying to lift my spirits and she certainly did! My beloved mother came to say hello, to provide me with encouragement to never give up, and to show me that she will ALWAYS be with me!
PEACE AND JOY
In Memory of Alice McLafferty
Toronto, Canada
On September 27, 2020, my mom passed while both my sister and I were by her side. Our grief has been difficult at times, but I now have a sense of peace knowing that she is alright.
I have two daughters and my mom would often stop by our home just to catch up with us while sitting on our back deck. My mom was always a big part of our lives. A few days after my mom passed, I looked outside at our back deck and observed a vibrant red cardinal. The cardinal was looking inside my home directly at me and my daughter. This was the first time I had ever seen a cardinal back there, so this moment was extraordinary and left me in complete awe. After a few minutes, I felt deep in my heart that this could somehow be a spiritual sign from my mom.
The following day I looked outside and again observed the beautiful red cardinal on our back deck. After a few more unexpected visits from this unique bird, I decided to do a little research and soon discovered the spiritual connection and symbolism of red cardinals.
Not long after my Cardinal Experience, my sister received a gift from a friend -- lounging pants featuring red cardinals! We continue to receive little signs from red cardinals and each one warms our hearts. One of these “coincidences” is what led me to the Caring Cardinals® website. The same gorgeous red cardinal continues to appear on our back deck which even makes my daughters smile as they also understand what this special bird symbolizes.
My mom was not a huge animal lover, but she really did appreciate birds. I am currently looking at bird feeders to set up outside for our sweet little visitor. This red cardinal and the new discovery of its spiritual symbolism has provided me with an overwhelming sense of peace and joy as I now know that my mom is alright, and she will always be with us.
PEACE FROM PERCY
In Memory of Percy Lewis James
Bowie, Maryland
Today is May 1, 2020 and I am sitting here at my desk which is located near a double glass door. I heard a noise outside and looked toward the door. I noticed a red blur through the blinds on the door and quickly realized it was a red cardinal. This feisty little redbird was repeatedly flying into the door as if it wanted to come inside.
This was such a special moment for me because at the time, I was sitting quietly at my desk, not looking forward to getting properly dressed to attend a graveside service for one of my best friends, Percy James. At the most perfect time ever, I received peace from Percy through one of God’s most spectacular creatures, the cardinal.
As seniors, we became close friends when he was my liaison Deacon while I headed up the men’s ministry at our church. Percy and I talked almost every day about everything under the sun.
It was an extraordinarily beautiful moment when the red cardinal appeared as I was thinking about Percy. It seemed as though I could hear him saying to me, “Awww, man … It’s gonna be alright!”
I miss you already, Percy.
PEACEFUL BLESSINGS
In Memory of Kendall J. Forbey
Richmond, Virginia
This past Christmas Eve I was styling my daughter's hair when she noticed a bold red cardinal that was resting on my husband's truck. On Christmas Day, the cardinal was resting on my truck. The cardinal has continued to hang around our trucks every day ever since. The most recent time I saw him was on January 15, 2022. I believe with all my heart that the cardinal is a spiritual messenger sent by my son in Heaven whom I lost to gun violence just six months ago. Kendall was only 28 years old. This vibrant red cardinal is such a peaceful blessing, and it truly comforts my soul to watch him for hours on end.
PEACEFUL HEART
In Memory of Art and Anne Blose
Prospect Park, Pennsylvania
During the summer of 2021 my parents passed away within just two months of each other. Losing my parents within such a short period of time was completely devastating.
I’ve read stories about people communicating with their Angels in Heaven through dreams and other ways, but I have never experienced anything like that. I have not
felt their presence in my house, nor have I ever walked into a room and smelled their scent. For the longest time, I believed that when my parents passed, they were just gone. I thought they moved on to the next world and I would never feel their presence again.
I have known for a while that cardinals are embraced as spiritual messengers from Heaven. I remember seeing a cardinal or two occasionally last year, but my grief prevented me from understanding the significance of their visits. I did a little more research on cardinals and started to feel that whenever I saw a red cardinal, it was my dad checking on me. My parents have a beautiful bush that looks like a tree next to their back steps. Whenever I would see the red cardinal, it was in this bush. I always smiled at the red cardinal, said hello, and would tell him how much I missed him. During these special moments, I felt completely at peace. Over time I realized that it was only the male cardinal visiting, which made me wonder if my parents were together.
For the past few weeks, I have seen a red cardinal in the bush at least once a week. Today was different! As I watched my dogs playing outside, two cardinals landed in the bush, and I swear they were looking right at me. One cardinal was a beautiful, brilliant red with a black mask. The other cardinal was smaller, mostly brown with hints of red on its wing and tail feathers and had a black mask. My mouth dropped and I was breathless. I knew this had to be a male and female cardinal. The cardinal pair looked at me and I looked right back at them. I immediately started sobbing, but happily. I truly believe it was my mom and dad. This incredible moment brought such peace to my heart and was one of the best experiences in my life.
After almost two years of searching for spiritual signs, I now finally know for certain that my mom and dad are together and will always be watching over me.
PEACEFUL PARENTS
In Memory of Verna and Alden Wold
Saint Louis Park, Minnesota
Today is May 10, 2020, the first Mother’s Day to celebrate during the global pandemic, COVID-19. The temperature outside is unusually cold and the skies are a dull gray. Normally I purchase beautiful flowers today and hang them out on my patio as a special way to honor the memory of my late mother. Sadly, I was unable to carry out my tradition due to the stay-at-home orders.
I had pebbles engraved with the names and birth dates of my loved ones in Heaven, which I always display on their birthdays and special occasions. Today I placed each pebble on my bookcase and sat down with my iPad to type a note to a friend. Suddenly, I felt a “presence” on my left side. I look up and over toward a window that was about six feet away. I immediately observed a beautiful red cardinal. It hopped up onto the window ledge, peered inside and looked directly at me. We were looking eye to eye for at least 15 seconds with the glass as our only barrier. I quietly whispered, “Thank you. I hear you.” The cardinal was not at all startled when I spoke. It continued to look at me and then flew away.
This beautiful moment has reassured me more than ever that my parents are at peace.
PEACEFUL PASSING
In Memory of Linda Pepin
Westminster, Maryland
I am a veterinarian and was performing a difficult euthanasia under her favorite tree for an elderly dog with each owner present. Right at the most stressful moment, a red cardinal began to sing and continued to sing until the pet passed peacefully on to the next realm. My beloved mother always asked me about my veterinary house calls when we talked. I believe my mother was present that day to calm me down and reassure me that everything would be alright. I am so grateful she was there to make it such a peaceful passing.
PEACEFUL PRAYERS
In Memory of Loydell Payton
Little Rock, Arkansas
I recently lost my father-in-law on Inauguration Day who died of complications from Covid-19. For the past year I frequently see red cardinals in my yard throughout the day.
Last month, a day before my father-in-law was admitted into the hospital, a red cardinal appeared. My husband saw it too and told me that sometimes when I am in my prayer closet praying, a red cardinal appears outside.
This morning there was a red cardinal in one of my trees. I captured several photographs because I truly believe the cardinal is a sign from God to let me know my loved ones in Heaven are always near.
PEACEFUL PRESENCE
In Memory of Russell Ledsome
Tuscarawas, Ohio
My fiancé had a strong connection with his grandfather who was almost like his father. When he was a child, he did everything with his grandfather and continued to enjoy time with him even as he grew older. I came into the family and instantly felt a strong connection with his grandfather as well. He became like a 3rd father to me. After a while, my fiancé and I moved in with his grandfather
to help provide care, as his health was declining rapidly. Shortly thereafter he passed, and my fiancé went off the deep end. It seemed all we did was fight. While arguing, a beautiful red cardinal flew by us and rested in a tree that was in the front of the house.
An incredible sense of peace came over us. We immediately felt
the calmness that his grandfather always had about him. His grandfather’s peaceful presence was felt while we spent time
telling stories of the incredibly wonderful person that he was.
PEACEFUL REMINDER
In Memory of Sean M. Walton
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
My husband passed away suddenly just two days before Thanksgiving in 2019. Two days following his funeral, I was sitting in my car, looked up and saw a magnificent red cardinal that was resting peacefully in a tree. This was extraordinarily special as I had only seen a red cardinal once before in my entire lifetime.
This beautiful moment will never leave my heart and mind. I feel as though God sent me this spiritual sign as a peaceful reminder that my husband is in His presence.
PEACE WITH PAWPAW
In Memory of Lowell “Pawpaw” Good
Allen, Texas
My Pawpaw passed away on May 12th in 2022, less than a month after he celebrated his 88th birthday. He was an amazing person with a big heart, loved to laugh and tell silly jokes. He loved birds, had many bird books, and taught me all about them. My Pawpaw was so proud of his bird-themed wall clock which featured a different bird species for each hour and would chirp every hour.
The weather here lately has not been ideal; only gray, cloudy skies. I just looked out my office window and saw a beautiful, bright red cardinal. I was so lucky that it remained close by and long enough for me to snap a few pictures before it flew away. In this moment I felt such a strong sense of peace and knew this was my Pawpaw's special way of saying hello. I think about him daily and will miss him for as long as I live. I feel blessed to have had such a special Pawpaw in my life.
PERFECT TIMING
In Memory of Liezabeth Otero
Spring Hill, Florida
My mother passed in December of 2018, just one day before my birthday. She had been suffering with diverticulitis and needed surgery. My mother was terrified, but I was able to help her obtain treatment because I work in the gastrointestinal medical field.
On the same day that my mother passed, I had a conversation with her just two hours prior and reassured her that she would be alright. My phone was cut off and I was triaging patients all day. The doctors I work for attempted to reach me repeatedly. Someone finally reached me, and a coworker drove me to the hospital. Along the way, she told me that my mom had a heart attack, but at the time I remember thinking she would be alright. I thought to myself, “My mother is the strongest person I know, and she will get through this.” She already survived a heart attack prior to this one. I kept thinking that I just needed to remain positive.
When we arrived at the hospital, they already knew my name, but I was still not thinking anything negative about it. They informed me that my mother had died.
I panicked and broke down crying hysterically. How could my best friend, my mother, whom I did everything with, be gone in an instant when I had just spoken with her
two hours earlier?!
I felt so defeated, guilty, hopeless, and responsible because I tried to help her get the treatment she needed, but this was the result. I begged her to not have the surgery until after the holidays, but my mother was head strong and refused. On a day when I should have been happy for God giving me life, I was left with agonizing pain and not wanting to celebrate another day.
Ever since my mom’s passing, I have been trying to get along and push forward with my life. I still find myself crying frequently and desperately wanting to speak with my mother.
Today it was raining, so I decided to do some cleaning. I lit a candle and looked outside through a window. Almost immediately I noticed a beautiful redbird sitting peacefully on the branch of a tree. I remained motionless while observing the cardinal, then realized it was looking directly at me!
I have never seen a redbird around my area prior to this moment and it was the most perfect timing ever. This brilliant little redbird appeared before me right as I was crying and looking out the window. This provided me with such a strong sense of peace and comfort. I could not stop thinking about it, which led to me researching the meaning of red cardinals. I soon discovered that red cardinals represent a loved one from Heaven stopping by to say they miss you, they love you, and they will always be with you.
PLANTED LOVE
In Memory of Ermilinda Maria Donato
Uvalde, Texas
I recently purchased a new, beautiful plant and was having a conversation
with my husband about it. I expressed to him my desire to plant it at my mom’s gravesite. I made lunch and while resting in our home, my son looked outside and exclaimed, “Mom! Look outside! There is a redbird!” I immediately got up and looked out the window to see a magnificent redbird resting on the plant! I immediately broke down in tears. This was the most beautiful moment I have ever experienced!
POP’S MESSAGE FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Raymond D’Uva
Livingston, New Jersey
In June of 2020, I lost my loving father to COVID-19. He was my hero and best friend. Although his death was a tragedy, I am so grateful for having an opportunity to say goodbye to him in person, and that he went peacefully.
Since my father’s passing, I have frequently seen cardinals and robins visiting my backyard. Today, something incredible happened and it was amazing to watch! I observed a male cardinal, female cardinal, mourning doves, and robins all together in one general area of my front yard.
I have heard that all three of these birds are said to be spiritual signs from Heaven. For this reason, I am confident that the spirit of my dad was visiting me to let me know that he will always be with me. It has been difficult for me to adjust without him, so seeing these birds together really made my day. I wish he were still here physically, but I will see him again, and now realize that he never really left.
Thank you so much for the sign, Pop!
POQUITO’S CARDINAL
In Memory of Poquito
Hixson, Tennessee
Shortly after my 16-year-old Chihuahua passed, I saw a bold red cardinal resting on a tree branch near my window. I had never seen a cardinal in my yard prior to this, nor have I seen one since. I believe it was my dog visiting to tell me that he had crossed over the Rainbow Bridge and that he is alright!
POURING WITH LOVE
In Memory of Katrena “Tina” Centrell Smith
Pinola, Mississippi
My Best friend since 1995 passed away on July 12, 2021. I was recently sitting outside with a group of friends while it was raining. Suddenly a gorgeous redbird appeared, and it took my breath away because I remembered hearing that a redbird will often appear after a loved one's death. It perched onto a can for several minutes, flew away, but returned shortly after and landed even closer to us.
I am beyond grateful that my best friend found such an extraordinary way to let us know that she is alright, and she is watching over us with love. Thank you, Lord; I truly needed confirmation that Tina is at peace.
PRAYERS ANSWERED
In Memory of Sergio Salinas
Brownsville, Texas
About one week after my husband was buried, I was praying with my rosary. Suddenly I heard a tapping sound and looked toward a window that has a beautiful view of my front porch. My eyes immediately fell upon a stunning red cardinal that was tapping its bill up against the window. Prior to this Cardinal Experience, I have never seen a bird, let alone a cardinal, come inside my porch. This moment brought me such extraordinary peace that I believe my prayers were answered.
PRAYING FOR THOMAS
Stanstead, Quebec
My big boy Thomas went missing over a week ago and the other day I saw a magnificent red cardinal at my bird feeder. Today, the male cardinal was at my feeder again and then a female cardinal joined him.
I rarely see cardinals and hope this is a sign that my fur baby will come home soon. I will continue to pray because Thomas is not just my pet; he is my pride and joy.
PRETTY REDBIRDS
In Memory of Phyllis C. Mardis
Montgomery, Alabama
We recently lost my mother after she lost a terrible battle with cancer. Once she reached the terminal stage, we brought her home so that she would be among loved ones as she transitioned. This was the saddest yet most beautiful time of my life. We had opportunities to hold her hands and love on her as she prepared to be with the good lord.
Lately, I have been sitting on my porch in contemplation and frequently observe redbirds visiting my home. Sitting within nature and seeing such pretty redbirds provides me with a true sense of peace.
PROTECTIVE PARENTS
In Memory of Henriette Rochon
Hammond, Ontario
My beloved mother passed about 13 years ago, and I was recently blessed with a Cardinal Experience on the day my she would have turned 90 years old.
I have been experiencing electrical problems, so an electrician came to my home to determine what was causing the problems. He had to change four electrical outlets that were either burned, wire cooked, too old or not installed with the right voltage. He expressed to me that he was extremely surprised my house had not caught on fire. He checked the electrical panel and discovered that the ground was all black which meant my house has been it by lightening.
My electrician left and I repeatedly thanked my angels for protecting my home from burning down. I looked outside and noticed that a thunderstorm was headed in my direction. I then observed a cardinal pair fly over and land upon a tree that was directly in front of me. The female cardinal was looking right at me and I naturally thought about my mom since it was her birthday. I began to talk to her and thanked them for keeping me safe!
I believe the cardinals were my parents showing me that they have been continually watching over me and protecting me!
PURE DEDICATION
In Memory of Tanya Rodriguez
Farmingdale, New York
Since springtime, I have been observing a red cardinal living in one of my neighbor’s trees. I noticed that he found himself a beautiful mate and decided to name them Charlie and Lucy.
I purchased a large bag of birdseed with hopes that it would encourage them to stay around for a while. Charlie often flew over to retrieve my seeds and would then fly back to his tree. I assumed that he was feeding his mate, Lucy.
A few weeks later, I discovered that Lucy had been laying on eggs inside her nest, because one day I saw a cardinal nestling laying on the ground. I named him Baldy because he didn’t even have Head feathers yet and thought it was unlikely to survive. Fortunately, Charlie was nearby, closely watching over little bald baby.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I have been staying home which has enabled me to enjoy more time with nature. I have been feeding Charlie and watching his four little offspring grow. Before they had an ability to feed themselves, Charlie would fly over, open the seeds, fly back, and feed them to feed each little nestling. As time went on, they became fledglings, learned how to fly, and quickly discovered where I leave out the bird seed.
I really enjoyed capturing photographs of Charlie while feeding Baldy and the others.
It makes me so happy to now watch each fledgling crack open the seeds and feed themselves. I will be incredibly sad when they leave but hope they will not venture too far away. I wish they knew just how much I have appreciated their company. Perhaps in their little bird heads, they will miss me, Mama Nature, and all the beauty that surrounded them near my home.
Charlie and Lucy showed pure dedication as parents and worked as a team, which is something that many of us humans should learn by.
RED CLOUD CARDINAL
In Memory of June Niles
Red Cloud, Nebraska
Due my mother’s failing health, she lived with my husband, children, and I for almost five years up until her death.
My mom was from Red Cloud, Nebraska which is over an hour from where we lived. One of her final wishes was that she wanted her funeral to take place in Red Cloud, Nebraska. This was an easy wish to grant.
While my mother was living with us, she developed a friendship with a hairdresser named Heather from Holdrege. My mom expressed another wish, asking Heather if she would style her hair for the funeral. Without hesitation, Heather graciously agreed.
My husband and I drove Heather to Red Cloud so that she could honor my mom’s wishes. As we were driving home on a highway, Heather and I were talking, and I told her how nice my mom’s hair looked. She said, “It was an honor for me to style her hair, and I just hope she would have liked it.” In that exact moment, a red cardinal flew in front of our windshield and landed on a guide wire in front of our car! We both smiled at each other and started crying!
I have been blessed with several Cardinal Experiences, but this one is my favorite!
REDBIRD RV
In Memory of Florence Cleo Wambeke
Tyler, Texas
My retired Sister Flo unexpectedly passed two years ago on November 24th which was the day before my 60th birthday.
Prior to Flo’s passing, I told her about my plan to purchase an RV and we discussed becoming “Snowbirds” together. We were so excited about traveling because Flo had rarely traveled anywhere. We decided that Tennessee and Texas would be ideal places to begin our adventure.
About a year later and just prior to winter, I purchased a used Class A RV in Montana. I spent the next six months getting it ready to travel, loaded my Jeep onto a trailer, and headed to Texas with my adult niece. We had no idea or real plans for what was ahead. It was our desire to carry out my sister’s wishes. We held onto faith that she would ride along and guide us.
My RV broke down just four hours from our first destination which left us stranded for two days. The repairman was so gracious as he did not know the circumstances of our trip yet charged me next to nothing for his labor.
We finally arrived at our campsite late at night and were completely exhausted. My RV broke down the moment we arrived and parked at our designated spot. Despite this troubling issue, we were relieved to at least be in a safe spot and went to sleep.
The following morning, I opened the curtain and heard my niece calling out my name. She yelled for me to hurry up and look outside because my favorite bird was looking inside our window! I immediately walked over and sure enough sitting on a tree was a beautiful red cardinal looking inside my RV. The cardinal slowly made its way up to the top of the tree, sat there momentarily, jumped on my roof, and then flew away!
I have been a longtime believer in the spiritual symbolism of red cardinals and feel as though this was my beloved sister’s way of saying she likes it here and would like me to stay for a while. I just hope she has a plan to get me back home before her birthday on June 14th.
RED-WINGED MESSENGERS
In Memory of Facunda and Modesto Borrero
New Port Richey, Florida
One beautiful morning in December of 2019, I awoke to the sound of a bird chirping and little taps on my window. I was going through some changes during this time and wondered if this was a sign. I lifted my blinds and observed a red cardinal flapping its wings and singing happily. At that moment I felt special connection with this fascinating creature.
The red cardinal began to visit often, bringing me joy and making each day better. The cardinal began to visit at least five times a day, every day. A female cardinal joined the male on my window every morning and they often sang together. This was strange yet fascinating because I felt inside my soul that the cardinals were my grandparents saying hello and visiting me. They passed when I was only 14 years old, which was difficult as I saw them often and was especially close to my grandmother.
My aunt helped me to construct a birdhouse and I also started to leave out birdseed on my window every day. Not long after, baby cardinals started to visit me as well. The window seemed to be their comfort zone. Each morning while singing near the window or on top of the bird house, the cardinals wait for me to pull the blinds up so they can see me. Occasionally I will knock on the window or whistle and instead of soaring away, they fly right to me.
I recorded several videos and captured countless photographs so that I can preserve each special moment with these beautiful little creatures. I just cannot believe they visit me every day. I named the red cardinal “Red” and the female cardinal “Brownie” and consider them to be my red-winged messengers from Heaven.
I recently did some research about cardinals online and discovered that we have a special connection. This is such an incredible experience and I am so thankful for it. To this day I still think about my grandparents and believe they are watching over me. The cardinals still visit every day and I am incredibly grateful for the immense peace they bring to my life!
REMEMBERING REMY
In Memory of Remy
Jenison, Michigan
On June 12th in 2018 a piece of my heart left when my “other half” passed. My beautiful dog Remy was 7 1/2 years old when she passed. Remy had been my “Velcro” and my daughter's best buddy ever since she was eight weeks old. Remy was two years old when our son was born, and soon became his “partner in crime” for the remaining five years of her life. She would lay underneath my son’s crib and come find us if he woke up crying. Remy would cuddle with my daughter and was right there to comfort her one night when she had a seizure. Remy listened to my daughter better than she listened to me at times. We were incredibly grateful that Remy was so loyal to both of our children.
After losing Remy, I immediately understood other people’s grief after losing their own pets. I think of Remy driving my car as her collar has hung from the rearview mirror ever since she passed. Lately, I seem to cry for her at least once every day with guilt for letting her go. Remy taught me so much about the love and loyalty
a dog can have for its family, and how much dogs are like people. Remy was a pit bull which is viewed by some as a vicious breed, but she was my “special girl.” She was very introverted and preferred to be around a small circle of only those she trusted and loved. Remy ignited my passion for her breed and helped me to use my voice to speak on behalf of all dogs, especially pit bulls. Dogs DO express their emotions and moods through their body language and various sounds. I want to help others open their minds and learn how to understand what dogs try to say and/or show us.
While growing up I learned that red cardinals are a sign of an angel or loved one visiting. For quite a while now, every morning when I arrive home from work, a red cardinal is resting on either my side mirror or the hood of my Jeep. I believe this is Remy’s way of letting me know that she is always nearby.
I miss you so much my baby girl and hope you know that I will ALWAYS love you!
RENEWED FAITH
In Memory of Mary Ann Zinn and John Diebel
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
A little over two weeks ago I lost my dear friend, Mary Ann. She was so special to me because I could share almost anything with her. During this awful time of worldwide illness and pain, I had been looking forward to having burgers or lamb chops with Mary Ann in the future, as we loved them both! My immediate reaction to the terrible news was that I had lost a very special “sister” with whom I would never again be able to “dish the dirt or the dinners” and I immediately felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Later that afternoon, I was in my sitting room which looks out across my covered patio to the garden. Suddenly I was startled by a flock of at least six red cardinals which had flown under the large awning and suddenly appeared at the patio door. Three or four fluttered around the patio for a few minutes, then flew away while two or three others continued to flutter around the door.
Early this morning I received a heartbreaking phone call with the news that my dear friend John had passed a couple of hours earlier. John was like a brother to me. Even though his passing was a blessing, it was still devastating for me. We had been friends since back in our school days. We were both writers and had even written our first song together back when we were sweet sixteen. Our spouses had been good friends for many years as well. We had visited each other’s homes in various parts of the country and went on several cruises together. When John's wife died, we continued to visit and spend time with him. After my husband died, John did his best to pick up the pieces. We shared many dinners together, talked several times a week and continued sharing our love of music and theater. A few years ago, John suffered severe memory loss and
had to move from his lovely home into an assisted living facility. Eventually he was moved into a nearby memory care facility.
When I visited him for the final time, I was one of the last people
he recognized.
This afternoon I was sitting in my favorite chair while gazing out
at my patio and garden. As I was wiping away a few tears, three cardinals appeared! One cardinal hopped up onto a patio step.
A second cardinal perched on the back of a wrought iron chair
and was looking at me through the glass door. The third cardinal
was flying around under the patio awning. After several minutes,
all three cardinals flew away and left me completely mesmerized!
I had heard bits and pieces of the “red cardinal phenomenon” in
the past but never paid much attention. I have lived in my home for nearly fifty years and have seen cardinals in my garden, but never anything like this! I believe that Mary Ann and John are saying a proper adieu rather than just "running out" on me. My faith is renewed! I truly hope Mary Ann and John are with their spouses
and mine as well. Until we meet again, my loved ones.
RESTING REDBIRDS
In Memory of Douglas Lewis
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Yesterday my son was in my room and looking out the window when he noticed a vibrant redbird in a tree. He immediately told me, so we went outside on my porch. A few minutes later, I finally saw the beautiful redbird resting in a tree directly across from where we were. It rested upon a branch for several minutes while we were admiring its beauty. After a few minutes, the sweet little redbird flew away towards my apartment.
Douglas was my boyfriend of 15 years and losing him has been incredibly difficult. I have been seeing beautiful redbirds resting in trees ever since his passing. The spiritual beauty of cardinals is so real. Whenever I see a redbird,
I feel the presence of Douglas and know that he will always be with me. Each cardinal blessing will continue to warm my heart and provide me with moments of happiness that I truly need.
REUNITED
In Memory of Phyllis Pitzer Crawford
Fremont, New Hampshire
My father passed in September of 2004 just five days after celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary. Since then, every time a cardinal flew into our yard, I would always smile knowing that my dad was near and watching over me.
A few years after his death, my mother was diagnosed with dementia. She had re-married an old friend from college, and when her health began to decline, he was not caring for her properly. He would leave her alone, was not always feeding her, and even fired the caregivers we had hired to help my mom, so my brother and I removed my mother from his care. He took us to court but thankfully the court found in our favor and I was able to care for my mother until her death on November 21, 2020. As I was going through this entire ordeal, I was longing to speak with my dad to get his advice and to find out if he approved of how I was caring for my mom.
Exactly one week after she passed, I was in my basement and happened to look outside through a window. Much to my surprise, there stood a brilliant red cardinal and its beautiful mate! Ever since I spotted the cardinal pair together, they have been visiting our bird feeder regularly. I am convinced that my dad is bringing my mom to show me that they finally reunited in Heaven and they are so happy.
It brings me such peace to have these beautiful birds visit my yard and I will continue to look for both male and female cardinals every day all year-round.
RICKY THE REDBIRD
In Memory of Ricky
Roseville, Michigan
I have seen a vibrant Redbird looking into my basement window on at least four different occasions. During two of its visits, the Redbird tapped on the glass with its beak, attempting to capture my attention. It worked, but the moment I looked up at it, the Redbird flew away.
I look forward to experiencing many more of these special moments with my Ricky the Redbird as they really warm my heart and calm my soul.
ROAD FROM HEAVEN
In Memory of Beverly Johnson
Smithfield, Rhode Island
My grandmother, who has been extremely close to me since birth, passed rather suddenly in October of last year. I have struggled
with her loss immensely and constantly ask for signs from her. My grandmother was an avid bird lover and cardinals were her very favorite. We had a cardinal etched onto her coffin, and I received a cardinal tattoo along with her handwriting.
While driving to work today, I passed a small female cardinal in the middle of the road. For some reason, it was resting upon the yellow lines. I was not quite sure if it was a cardinal, so I turned around and drove back toward it. I pulled up slowly and looked out my front window. There it was, a beautiful female cardinal, sitting upright but motionless in the middle of the road, with its feathers fluffing up each time a car sped by. I quickly pulled over, grabbed a sweatshirt, and slowly walked toward the cardinal. I leaned down to carefully pick up the bird and was thinking it must be injured, but as I became close, it flew away!
If this was not a sign from my gram, I do not know what is! I found my gram on a road from heaven and will never doubt her presence with me ever again.
ROCKING REDBIRD
In Memory of Alice Martin
Jekyll Island, Georgia
My mother and I always enjoyed trips together to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel in Jekyll Island, Georgia. While there, we would rock in the rocking chairs on the large veranda and people watch. That was just something that we enjoyed doing together during every trip.
Last week while visiting there with my son, we walked out of the hotel office and over toward the rocking chairs. Suddenly a vibrant red cardinal came out of nowhere and perched upon the middle rocker. This is the area that we most often sat in. This immediately gave me chills, because I know my mother was sending me a reminder of what we used to do and how we enjoyed these special times together. I smiled and said out loud … ”I know you are here.”
ROGER’S REDBIRDS
In Memory of Roger Reynolds
South Point, Ohio
April 30, 2020 was the day my dad’s battle with Pancreatic Cancer came to an end. A few hours later, I drove back home.
Now home, I was sitting quietly while looking outside through a window and immediately noticed a vibrant red cardinal resting on a tree branch. Suddenly, another cardinal appeared. I knew instantly that my dad was with me. As I continued watching the redbirds, several more cardinals appeared throughout my yard and in the same tree. I attempted to count them but stopped at 10 because I was so overwhelmed with emotion. What began with one gorgeous red cardinal, ended with far too many cardinals to count. This magnificent sight brought so much comfort and reassurance that my father was with me. I quietly smiled as hot tears rolled down my face.
My dad knew that I was hurting and needed comfort, so he showed up in a big way! He wanted me to know that he was with me again!
I have always been a believer of comforting cardinals from Heaven, but this moment really blew me away. I will continue to believe that my dad is near whenever I see a cardinal. It will serve as a constant reminder that everything is going to be alright.
ROLE MODEL IN HEAVEN
In Memory of Juan Evangelista Ruiz Sr.
San Antonio, Texas
The day before my dad passed away, I woke up to care for my grandson Mateo.
I walked outside and something beautiful immediately caught my eye; a red cardinal as distinguished as he could be. In that moment I was not sure if it was my dad.
Later that day in the afternoon, my sister Julie sent me a text to let me know our
dad's feeding was going to end, because he was no longer able to swallow.
My son-in-law picked up my grandson so that I could spend time with my dad.
At 10:30am the following morning, my dad passed on. Many rosary prayers and blessings were said prior and after his passing.
After my dad was taken to the funeral home, I went back to our house with my sister and all our children, to try and get some sleep. While drifting off, I remembered seeing the cardinal and sent this message to my sister Julie:
Yesterday morning I saw a red cardinal in my yard. He had been hanging around for about a week. It is said that the red cardinal is a spiritual sign that someone from the Heavens is watching over you. I think dad had already passed on. He was beautiful, confident, and looked around like a bird with purpose.
I believe my dad already had a purpose in Heaven and God gave him a job,
an important job at that. One thing my brothers, sister and I received from my
dad was the importance of having an unconditional love for others no matter the circumstances. My dad taught us to have a love for people who may be perceived
as less than perfect. No matter a person's dislike of my dad he always blessed
them as Jesus did.
I love you, Daddy.
ROSIE REDBIRD
In Memory of Rose Pizzitola
Canyon Lake, Texas
One week after my sister Rose passed away, my son and his family came to visit for comfort. My six-year old granddaughter was up early one morning enjoying her breakfast while I drank my coffee. The rest of our family was still asleep. Suddenly in a surprised and startling voice, my granddaughter said, “Grandma — There’s a redbird on the rail!” Resting on the handrail of my deck was a bright red cardinal. I replied, “Yes, that is Aunt Rosie letting us know that she is in Heaven; she is alright, and she is happy.”
A little while later her mother woke up and joined us. My granddaughter jumped up from her chair and exclaimed, “Mommy — Aunt Rosie was here!” Her mother looked at me with a bewildered expression on her face. I quickly explained that my sister Rose had sent a red cardinal as a messenger to let me know she was safe, happy and in Heaven.
Every single day for the next week, a vibrant redbird sat in a tree next to my deck. It was seldom that I had seen a red cardinal before that time. Rose loved to sit inside and watch the birds through windows. She also had a wonderful book about birds and enjoyed looking at it often. It was only fitting that she would send a red cardinal to let me know she was alright. I miss her so much but love when she sends me a Rosie Redbird!