Christmas Eve is not quite Christmas, yet. Although, many churches have Christmas Eve services to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it’s not what I am going to discuss today.
Today, the cardinal has been on my mind. It is said that when we see a cardinal, it represents the spirit of a loved one that has died. At this time of year, empty chairs at a family gathering are conspicuous. I know that I miss my loved ones that made Christmas special for me when I was a child. But, that’s not what I wanted to share today.
The male cardinal with its bright red feathers stands out against a snowy background. I guess that’s why many pictures and greeting cards have them featured that way. But, here in the southern part of the US, snow is so rare and infrequent that most cities don’t have a snowplow. A quarter inch of accumulation can paralyze most cities. This doesn’t even take into account the longtime residents, like me, who have no idea how to drive in the snow. Cardinals in the snow are not really something that I have encountered.
A winter day where I live is cool temperatures with clear cerulean skies or a little bit warmer with gray overcast skies. Neither one of these really has any clouds in the sky. Clouds in the winter are just a sign that the sky will change from the clear blue to the flat gray in a couple of days. The cardinal with its bright feathers will stand out against either the gray or the blue sky. But, neither are really featured in photos or greeting cards. I guess that a gray Christmas doesn’t sound as nice as a white one. But, to this Southern girl, a white Christmas fills me with panic while a gray one makes me feel warm and festive.
That’s how I feel when I see cardinals. Now, I feel a sense of love and joy. I do miss my dad, my in-laws, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and my dog and probably always will. Right now, though, on Christmas Eve 2023, I am filled with joy when I think of the love shared between us and the memories I have. The bright cheery cardinals remind me that I loved and was loved in return. That is one of my favorite gifts of Christmas – love.
Journey with Monica 