I found beautiful Stella, a cardinal, sitting motionless and stayed as still as a rock sitting in my side garden. I spoke to her with no response. I named her, Stella. I inquired of her for what she might need. She moved her eyes and allowed me to come near.
I waited by her side as I knew there were larger birds that could possibly harm her. I thought I don’t know enough about birds to distinguish male from female. So, I went on calling her Stella.
After a time I heard friendly chirps all around us and I looked and other cardinals were calling her name. She regained her strength and took flight with those of her kind.
“Now this is what the LORD says— “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! 2) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze.…” (Isaiah 43:1)
The Redeemed of the Lord God will be called by name and take a safe flight when the time is right. Do Not fear! Stella did not fear but waited to hear! What a lesson Stella taught me on my early morning walk.
thedailylily.com 
Sara, thank you for this beautiful story. It seems like this “event” was sent straight from God to go with your prophetic scriptures and words of great encouragement. What a lesson to hang onto with great hope.
Hope! Yes, Debi, Hope! The Prophet Isaiah saw it best, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) And, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6$
Encouraging Scripture, from the book of Isaiah, and beautiful picture of “Stella”. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of your morning lesson and walk.
Encouraging , Yay Tammy! Encourage “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.” (Romans 15:4 NLT)
As the flowers start to bloom, birds sing a little louder, and the sun stays out a little longer, warmer breezes delight our faces we are reminded that spring is the ultimate time of renewal, a form of spiritual awakening.
It’s time to start planting our gardens! The thought of touching a seed pack and reviewing the photo cover of the pack thinking/hoping it’s going to happen! A seed for a red delish tomato! No way one might say! But, Hope says, plant anyway and wait patiently to see! This is encouraging spiritual growth!
I would like to share a few seed packs with you that are guaranteed to grow when planted in your heart’s good soil!
“For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah (29:11)
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
Yes, faithful in prayer as planted seeds need a little water. Be sure to keep an eye and ear on the birds. And, remember His (Jesus’) eye is on the tiniest sparrow and He watches over YOU!
Cardinals are gifted teachers!
Thank you for the gardening tips, inspiration, and the seed packs, Sara. The planting directions are really clear and the guarantee makes for a real hopeful harvest!
As I love cardinals so much, the bright red Cardinal is a male and the light brown is a female.
I found that the cardinal is full of symbolism in my research
An old folklore preserves the culture’s belief that “When a cardinal appears in your yard, it’s a visitor from heaven.” Cardinals have been a symbol of the presence of light in the middle of darkness, hope among the ashes of sorrow, an warmth in the coldest of winters. The poetic saying, “Cardinals appear when angels are near” captures the hopes in the persona of the beauty and elegance of the creature of flight. Another t meaning of the presence of a cardinal When you keep seeing a certain type of bird, it is usually a heaven-sent messenger of love for you.
Other symbols of hope:
• Bird of Hope: Dove
• Animal of Hope: Dog
• Number of Hope: Four
• Flowers of Hope: Sunflowers, Daffodils, Cactus Flowers
• Colors of Hope: Yellow, Orange, Blue, Green, Red
• Aromas of Hope: Peppermint, Lavender
• Sounds of Hope: Ocean Waves, Wind Chimes, Waterfalls
• Symbols of Hope: Cross, Butterfly, Rainbow, Babies, Hot Air Balloons, Stars, Christmas, Lighthouse, Waterfalls, Candles, Sunrise and Sunset
• Person of Hope: Jesus
Gospel song – Hold on to this! Christ our solid rock – when storms come we stand on our solid rock
Edward Mote
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare note trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand,
all other ground is sinking sand
Published in 1837
My Hope
• https://youtu.be/um6GgbYU9z8
Thinking more on the Cardinal.
The red is the blood of Jesus shed for each of us, our sins he bore on that cross.
The brown female Cardinal must be us. Jesus protects us. The red around her beak must
represent us as those who follow Jesus, witness of His great love for us. We know He is our hope, We know He is our refuge. Jesus paid for our sins by shedding his blood and dying on the cross for us earthy ones meaning us just as the female is brown. Our hope is in Jesus whom we will fly away with one day. Just a thought. You may have many more ideas.