A Cardinal Sits With Me

A Cardinal sits with me at end of day.
It is a bleak, unhappy time,
And I have lost my way.

He seems content to stay a while and rest,
And my front porch is cool with shade,
Sun moving to the west.

On other days I've seen him flit and fly
And labor quite industriously
For food that caught his eye.

And then he'd pick at wings and clean and preen,
Then dart away and back again,
Quite nervous did he seem.

He'd change his stance and cock head constantly,
Not holding still a moment long;
He agitated me.

But, suddenly, this eve he's come to sit.
As if he knows my sorrowful plight --
That I am in this pit.

And now and then he sings aloud his song.
But when he stops to rest a while,
For much more do I long.

I'm sure his day is done; he should head home,
But here he sits beside my chair,
Just so I'm not alone.

His beauty, I have finally come to see,
Is unsurpassed: his ruby hue,
Wings black-edged perfectly.

In truth he is a masterpiece of life:
Each part of him a sculptor's dream,
Down to his beady eye.

A good half hour he's stayed and felt at home.
And looks right at me now and then,
To say, "You're not alone."

I sigh and realize I am content.
I close my eyes; begin to smile.
This is what Jesus meant.

He urged us to behold the birds of air,
And take a lesson from each one
About His love and care.

"Yes, Jesus, I'm at peace in You at last.
This little bird you sent to me
Has fulfilled his task.

So take care of him, Lord and keep him strong,
And send him out to other souls
Who need to hear his song."

Then opening my eyes, I seek my friend.
But he has flown while I have prayed --
His mission at an end.
~

["Look at the birds of the air! They don't worry about what to eat -- they don't need to sow or reap or store up food -- for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are." Matt. 6:26 TLB).]

"Not one sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't worry! You are more valuable to Him than many sparrows." (Matt. 10:30-31, TLB).]

Now My Heart Must Sing

by Sandra Conner


I woke to face another day,
No glad expectancy,

For heavy disappointments were
Weighing down on me.

The day before had been so filled
With unsupportive words,
With problems piled four levels high,
And everywhere closed doors.

The friends I'd counted on were not;

They came and went like rain,

All so enwrapped in their own lives

They couldn't feel my pain.

It was just like so many days,

All running wearily,
So sad, with disappointments too,

All weighing down on me.

And though I knew I would survive,

That didn't soothe my heart,

For sorrow deep and troubles too
Brought a longing to depart.

But then to Jesus I did run;

I saw it in a dream:

I stood below a gentle hill,

All carpeted in green.

When I looked up and saw Him there,

He stood beneath a tree,

And waited, smiling patiently;

He'd been expecting me.

I ran but didn't feel the strain;

He grabbed me in His arms,

He wrapped them hard around me; held me

Strongly, safe and warm.

I'd never felt so light and free;
Engulfed with joy and rest;
No problem lingered to be weighed;

All I could feel was blessed.

And all the disappointments, though
So heavy they had been,

Took flight, and sadness too was gone,

Ev'ry conflict, ev'ry pain.

All threats and fears and torments sore,

All guilt, defeat, and shame –

In love so glowing and so strong,
All were dissolved away.

Then suddenly I saw a truth –

It caught me by surprise –

That Jesus' joy exceeded mine;

I saw it in His eyes.

I'd known He would accept me, that

He'd made a place for me,

But never had I even guessed

How happy He would be!

He was so thrilled to have me there,

He laughed so loud and strong,

That all things not of joy and life
Just vanished in joy's song.

And when I woke to this new day,

His laughter still did ring;

His arms still held me close and warm,

And now my heart must sing!