He began his perch as I began to sign my name. Oh, Mr. Redbird, I needed to see you. Thank you for showing up when you did. God knew I needed the affirmation.
As most of my readers know, a Redbird has made its presence known to my family and me during every significant occasion since 1976. One shows up as an affirmation or during a celebration. Whether you choose to believe as our family believes is up to you. I only know that when we experience it … we know.
In 1976, my dad asked God to heal him from stage 4 kidney cancer and bring the Redbird as a sign. It was a snowy January morning when one arrived on the railing in his garage as he left for Methodist Hospital to have his kidney removed. The next day, Dr. Mosbaugh, his urologist, informed our family that when he removed his kidney … there was no cancer. Dad lived another 30 years and had quite the story to tell. A Redbird was sitting on the rail in his garage when he went out to pack his suitcase in the trunk of his car. He knew.
When Dad passed in 2006, I was to give his eulogy. The morning of the celebration of his life, I was sitting on the front porch where my parents lived. I gathered my thoughts and looked at the neighbor’s rooftop across the street. There sat three Redbirds. I knew I would tell the story of how God brought the Redbird as a sign, not only to Dad but to all of us, that he would be okay. Those at the funeral needed to know.
Fast forward to 2009, when my daughter, Emily, married Drew. I was at the old Geist Christian Church setting up for the wedding. I heard a loud noise at the window. I didn’t see anything. I heard the noise again, and when I walked over and looked outside at the brick wall in the courtyard, yes, there was a Redbird perched on the brick wall. He sat there for over a half hour. I told Emily, “Your grandpa will be watching from Heaven.” The Redbird had told us so.
When I married Chuck in 2014, Emily called the morning of the wedding. “Mom, there is a Redbird at our window, and he’s been pecking on the glass all morning.” She knew.
In 2020, a few days after Mom passed from complications of COVID-19, I was sitting on our lanai in Tampa. Talking on the phone to my friend, Linda Butler, I couldn’t finish my sentence, for on the stone fence sat a fat ol’ Redbird. “Linda, I’ve never seen a Redbird in Florida!” We both knew.
Photo provided by Janet Hart Leonard
And so, in late November, my realtor and friend, Shannon Plumer, sat at my kitchen table. I was signing the agreement to the offer on the house in which I grew up. As I began to write my name, I saw a flash of red outside the window. I motioned for Shannon to look outside. Yes, the biggest Redbird I had ever seen sat on top of the birdfeeder. He was perched there in all his glory. The entire time I was signing away my childhood home, as well as a piece of my heart, that Redbird sat there. It was at least three minutes. He never pecked at the feeder to get food. He just watched us. We knew.
Shannon has been around me long enough to know what the Redbird’s arrival meant. It was a sign of affirmation that my parents would approve the sale of the house. I looked up at Shannon and watched as tears found their way down her cheeks. “Shannon, now you know why I have the faith that I do.” I wiped my tears and handed her the papers. I believed God had brought the right person who would love the house well.
Friday afternoon, we sat in the conference room to sign the papers transferring over the title of 755. Ms. M told me a bit of her story. My affirmation was confirmed. She was the perfect buyer.
“Ms. M, welcome home. You’re going to love it. The rooms are still filled with love and peace. And Ms. M … look for the Redbird!”
I handed her a picture of the house in 1952 and a picture of my parents back then. I also gave her a picture of the Redbird in my column today. Ms. M now knows what the Redbird means to the Hart Family. I think she now knows he will show up for her, too.
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Romans 15:13 ERV
Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). Visit janethartleonard.com.