From the Heart
Each Christmas season I tuck a few extra Redbirds in and amongst my decorations. Each are a reminder of my dad’s Redbird story.
It’s a story that I never get tired of telling. It’s a story of faith and how when God answers your prayers in a big way … you are never the same.
You see, in November of 1976 my dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer. His urologist, Dr. Mosbaugh, thought the best way to prolong his life was to have his kidney removed and see if the cancer had spread.
Dad was told to go home and get his affairs together and return in January for the seven-hour surgery.
A few days later, Dad was sitting in his recliner and a Redbird flew under the awning, outside his family room window.
He said to God, “If you bring back the Redbird, I know I will be okay.” A simple prayer.
The Redbird flew away.
We struggled to celebrate(?) Christmas.
A few weeks later, Dad packed his suitcase for the hospital. Snow covered the lawn and it was bitter cold. It wasn’t fit weather for man nor a Redbird to be outside.
But as Dad walked inside the garage, there was the Redbird, perched upon the rail of the garage door. Dad said he knew, he just knew, he would be okay.
Dad walked back inside the house and told my mom about the Redbird. She knew as well that Dad would be okay.
The next day, Mom, our pastor, Rev. Wilson, my Aunt Lora and I waited the seven hours in a tiny waiting room at Methodist Hospital. It was late in the afternoon when we saw Dr. Mosbaugh quickly walking down the hallway. He had a big smile on his face when he announced, “We found no cancer!”
There were cheers of gratitude to God for answering our prayers and bringing the Redbird back. We all knew that we would never be the same. As Dr. Mosbaugh said, this is a miracle.
And so the Redbird story has been shared for over 40 years.
Dad lived until 2006. The day of his funeral as I was sitting on the front porch of my parent’s home, preparing what I would be saying, three beautiful Redbirds were perched upon the neighbor’s roof. I knew I would share his Redbird story.
Over the years whenever there was a family gathering that we wished where my dad could have been … a Redbird has shown up.
My daughter Emily’s wedding. My wedding. My granddaughter Alecksa’s baptism. My son, Brandon, just sitting in his truck but needing advice from my dad.
A Redbird showed up. And we knew … we just knew.
It’s a story I share every Christmas. It’s Jim Hart’s Redbird story. If I ever need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness, I simply look for a Redbird. He always shows up.