My Christmas Cardinals

After I had my moment of gifting my envelopes and sharing my heart with the family, my daughter remarked: “After all our gifts were opened with excitement and lots of silliness and laughter and oohs and aahs mixed in, It was always Papaw or Papa who reeled us back to the sweet and tenderness of what Christmas is all about. Now Nana is carrying it on for us. Thank you, Nana!” I knew that the changes I made were worth the effort.

As we “mature” we start to tweak some of our traditions and make accommodations for new ones. It comes with the territory of “Senior”! Rather than resisting the changes, I decided to take hold of them and embrace them. It seems “change” has been my life since the passing of my sweetheart eight years ago. I’ve become quite savvy at accepting change and doing my best to create moments right in the middle of it.

This was my year to make changes to my typical Christmas gift buying frenzy and transition to money envelopes as Papa and Granny did. What a relief it was instead of trying to find a gift that could be used or even wanted plus trying to keep within my budget where I wanted to always ensure spending the same amount for everyone. So that was my plan – an envelope with $$. But that plan became one of sweet sentimentality when I saw a little cardinal on a rooftop ornament and I thought about the object lessons of cardinals that have blessed me so much. It was a “kiss” from heaven that I could pass along. I bought 12 of those little ornaments.

Cardinals would be my theme for this year’s giving. I wasn’t even looking for a box when I found this one with Cardinals on it and I knew it would hold my gift bags that held the ornament and the envelope as well as a letter of explanation and Cardinal photo. One box went to my Austin family (that I hid under their tree when I was with them two weeks ago) and another box made its debut to my Frisco family on Christmas Eve. I share a portion of my letter with you:

Merry Christmas to My Precious Family…………………..
Of course, you know how much I miss Papa, and I know you do, too. I really try to keep his memory alive and it does stay alive when you all are worshiping God, playing and singing your hearts out, laughing, having family fun AND, of course, fishing.
This year’s theme is the “Visiting Cardinal”. I remember at my home in Tulsa, when, one morning I opened up the shades in my bedroom and there, perched on the fence was a beautiful Cardinal. And inside the bush were a mama and her babies. The Cardinal is said to symbolize hope, joy, health, rejuvenation, and celebration -- especially for those who choose to hold the Cardinal dear. It's said you're a special type of person who is willing to care for those in need, if you love the Cardinals. I love the Cardinals! On the day that the Cardinal appeared in my backyard, and many times since, I feel like it is a kiss from heaven to me. I like to think that my daddy, mama, grandparents AND, most of all, your Papa is sending me kisses from heaven, too and cheering us on.

I'm using the Cardinal as an object lesson to remind us to look for signs that remind us of sweet times, precious people and wonderful memories. I'm in good company in doing so. Jesus was the grandest storyteller using object lessons. He often used the objects at hand around Him to teach people about God and His Kingdom. When He was by a well, He used water. After He fed 5,000 people, He taught them about the Bread of Life. When He was on a fishing boat, He said the Kingdom was like a fishing net. He told His listeners to consider the lilies, the sparrows, and the hairs on their head. When He said, consider the sparrows, there were probably sparrows flying around. When He taught the parable of the sower, there probably was a sower in the next field where He was teaching. Jesus asked the disciples to remember Him as they took bread and wine at the Last Supper. The Bible is filled with visible reminders of God’s constant communication and connection with His people.

So WHY wouldn't we see a Cardinal and think of hope, joy, and celebration AND sweet loved ones that could just be sending their love to us in the most beautiful way? So, I’ve given each of you a little Cardinal to remind you of Papa and grandparents who are cheering you on from heaven. If one happens to show up in your yard, then remember to look up to heaven and say, “Thanks, God! I needed that. Hi Papa! Keep praying for me! I promise to catch up with you one day!”

This was my subtle way of keeping Papa alive, giving Jesus the credit for it all and, hopefully, leaving a lasting impression of Nana’s Christmas message! Now I’m already thinking about what next year’s theme will be because you’d better believe – I want to leave footprints and handprints of the ONE that Christmas and EVERYDAY is all about!