Yesterday I read Fannie Flagg's A Redbird Christmas. With Fannie's trademark humor and ability to draw characters that you would swear you've known, she tells the story of a Christmas miracle involving a red cardinal named Jack in the south Alabama bayou town of Lost River. When I got to the recipe section (Yep, most of her books have recipes.) I found this beautiful color print of some redbirds. Knowing that both my sisters had checked out this very library book before me, I'm wondering if one of them left it there.
Second part of story: This morning Sophie and I were having our morning walk over in the wooded vacant lot across from The Yellow House. I was thinking about that sweet book I had finished reading last night, and what should fly right past my nose and light on a limb beside me but a red cardinal. I'm not sure it was Jack, but I spoke to him just the same.
Seconds later as Sophie and I were coming down the path out of the woods, I looked down on the ground and here's what I saw (photo at right).
Do you see the cardinal? I brought it in and showed Vann and asked him what he saw and he said, "A little bird." But I'm sure it's a cardinal. See the little crest on top of his head. I'm naming him Jack.
I don't know what all this means. I've never really believed in signs--not really. I've always thought that God works more through our hearts and minds to show and tell us things and to lead us. But things like this are making me wonder.
I didn't write about the Wal-Mart incident last week--another possible sign. I was thinking on my way there how my prayer life these days had become sort of yakky. I just yak yak yak all day, asking God to do things my way. I had never stopped to listen to what he has to say back. So ok, I told myself, I'm going to hush up for a while and just listen.
After I'd made my purchases and checked out, I started out of the store and for some reason I turned toward the exit on the right--whereas I was parked way down on the left side of the store. When I got almost to the door, I heard someone call my name. It was my friend, Jean, who has been undergoing chemotherapy. Her husband, who is also undergoing chemo, was diagnosed at almost the same time. So they're a two-chemo family.
Jean and I had a nice talk and assurred each other that we were in each other's prayers. Then Jean said something that touched me: she said "I thought I trusted God before this happened, but now I know what trusting God really mean." She added you have to turn everything over to him and let him handle things. In other words, when we give our cares and requests to God, we don't need to give him a set of instructions to go along with them. He knows his job better than we do.
So then, I'm in the car driving back home, thinking of what Jean had said, and then the yakkking started again. "But God," I argued. "I'm afraid I might forget to say something or do something in my prayers that will make a big difference. I can't take the chance that I haven't done things, said things the way you want me to."
Just then, I had driven under a big power transformer. Well something or Somebody decided it was time for that particular transformer to make a statement. It exploded with a very, very loud boom, and fire and sparks flew all around my car. It was like God was saying, "I'VE GOT THIS! YOU CAN HUSH NOW."
So I did.
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On 12/14/2008, Kai said ...
Ooooooh! Didn't you just love that book? I'm SUCH a Fannie Flagg fan! She ROCKS! (Remember her on Candid Camera?) I read Redbird Christmas at least a year ago & loved it! And those redbirds are definitely signs! How could they be just coincidence? I sort of think God (or the Great Spirit, etc.) figures it's good to use ANY method that gets people's attention! And that transformer would definitely grab a person's attention!
On 12/14/2008, Linda said ...
Oh, my! Talk about the proverbial bolt from the sky! God does have a sense of humor, doesn't he! One thing I know for certain...He loves you and wants to hear from you. True, he probably prefers a chance to get a word in edgewise! :-)
DH and I were talking this morning about the verse in Eph 6 where it says to pray always, all kinds of prayers about everything. When your mind is full of talking to God, it doesn't have space left for wrong thoughts, fear, etc. Not a bad thing! Bless you both!
On 12/14/2008, Gayle said ...
Remarkable post, Susan...a keeper that I will print and put in my journal.
One of my favorite ways to pray is simply say, "Thy will be done..." and then wait.
On 12/14/2008, Cindy said ...
How absolutely amazing. Trusting God instead of ourselves is difficult for us to sometimes allow Him to do. Loved reading your blog. May God bless you and your family.
Cindy
On 12/15/2008, kayellen said ...
God is amazing!
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart...
Amazing story.
What a blessing to have a friend that understands and you both can support each other.
Warm Hugs and prayers coming your way,
Kay
On 12/15/2008, Beverly said ...
I have that book here waiting for me to read it. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed it.
Susan, I know just what you mean. I have been through the experience of "letting go and letting God". Even though I prayed constantly, I wanted God's answer to be what I wanted most. He truly does speak to us, if we can just listen. There are times in life that are difficult beyond imagination, and it is those times that teach us the only way is through Him.
On 12/16/2008, Teresa said ...
I enjoyed reading about the redbird book and then your find. I think cardinals are just beautiful, especially against a winter background. The glass you found is rather unique and its so interesting how these redbirds just kept appearing while or after you finished the book.
On 12/16/2008, Molly said ...
Remember Susan, God sometimes calms the storm but sometimes he lets the storm rage and He calms His child. Sounds like *someone* wanted you to get calm!
You guys are in my continual thoughts and prayers.
Molly
On 12/20/2008, Patti said ...
Once again I'm behind on my reading, but not on my prayers. I'm glad to read that things are going well so far. Love the picture of Vann in the hat! What good friends you have to support you - I'm so glad.
I truly believe in the power of prayer, and the fact that there can be signs. I'll never forget my mom telling me the following story. I was very, very little, and my mom was pregnant with my sister. They were at a company picnic in the summer, and my dad went out to play baseball with the others. My mom told him he was too old to play - he was 45 or 46 then I think- and that he'd probably break a leg or something. He laughed and went out to play. And broke his leg. This was in 1949, and there wasn't any sick leave pay or anything like that back then. He couldn't work for several months. My mom said she just had a talk with God and said she just couldn't deal with this, so she was putting all of us in his care. A month or two later one of her brothers - who made very good money doing construction for the government - came to offer his help. He got out his checkbook and asked how much money they needed. She said God was taking care of them - that we had enough money to get buy thanks to His help. You see, she was a bookkeeper at the bank for 20 years before I was born - so she knew how to keep books. When she added up the bills they totaled more money than was in the checkbook. So she just told God she trusted him to take care of us, and started paying the bills. She wrote a check for every bill, carefully subtracted it from the checkbook, and when she was done there was still money left over. She double and triple checked her figures, and everything was correct. She'd added up the bills correctly, and she'd subtracted correctly as she wrote the checks. She knew it wasn't possible, but it happened. A miracle with absolutely no explanation than the fact that God was taking care of us. I'll never forget that story.
May God continue to take care of you, Vann, Sophie and all those you love.
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This is the yarn that my Autumn Yarn/Coffee swap partner Alicia sent me back in November. I love Vanna's Choice yarn. The colors are so soft, and so is the yarn. It's a 100% acrylic, machine washable, worsted weight yarn that feels and looks more like a soft wool, without the scratch and itch.
just out this fall. On the left is a photo of the premier issue, which contains the scarf and hat shown as well as many other beautiful projects. If you knit, you'll probably want to have a look at this new mag.
