He was so tiny and fragile.  I wanted to stroke him, but concerned it would cause him much fear.  Thus, I held him gently, enamored with his beauty and speaking softly as though he understood every word I uttered. This would probably be the first, last and only time I would hold such a creature, feeling the warmth of his body against my hand. I couldn’t stop crying for I didn’t want this magnificent gift from God to die in my hands. He blinked softly as I stared into his exquisite little face.

I stood in my kitchen only minutes earlier when I heard him hit my window hard. I looked out to see his lifeless, splayed body on the walk beneath the window. I couldn’t stop the tears. “Oh no, God, no, please don’t let him die,” I screeched.  I ran to grab a towel and dash outdoors to pick up this helpless, little life.

Pictures, calendars and countless quotes have paid tribute to these creatures. Now, he was in my hands, not uttering a sound, not trying to leave. I imagined he was thinking, “what was this “being” going to do, after quickly picking me up after I fell?”  Bringing him indoors, I made numerous telephone calls to do whatever to save this precious little boy’s life. My initial telephone call was to the Oklahoma Wildlife Department, but with it being a Saturday afternoon, the office was closed. I frantically began telephoning local veterinarians, sobbing as I told them what happened; but also, fearful his legs were broken or worse.

One of the veterinarians instructed me where I could receive help.  I told the Edmond animal shelter of the beautiful cardinal I held wrapped in a towel, praying he was alright. What a relief that this cherished cardinal was most probably stunned. I had to chuckle when the voice on the telephone noted, “sometimes they hit the windows so hard, they are knocked silly and it may take him 15-20 minutes to regain his strength and fly away.”

Yes, his little eyes continued to blink, so I gently took him outdoors and bending down on the lawn, carefully unwrapped the towel. What a joy! Little boy cardinal flew away. After releasing him, I researched the life of cardinals, especially since he was so small.  My research made him even more beloved to me. The males receive their full coat of red feathers at age one, so I felt certain he was a young male. Cardinals mate for life and remain in the area. Could this be the son of the parents whom I so lovingly watched build a nest and give life to their little fledglings by my office window?

Just as I carefully picked this creature up to be certain he would survive, I thought of the many times we fall and God picks us up, wrapping us in His blanket of love. He makes certain we are okay and that we will “fly away” to fulfill His plans for our lives. Matthew 6:26 NIV, “look at the birds of the air; they do not reap or store away in bars, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”