On Sunday, I had Coffee with a Cardinal.

It was Father’s Day. The first Father’s Day celebrated without my Daddy who passed away in December. Oh, I have an amazing Father-In-Law and I happily honor him on this day. But, there was something missing as I thought about the man who chased away the closet monsters, taught me golf, walked me down the aisle, held both my own children in his arms–making them messy (and clean) toast, teaching them to drive the boat, and reading them Mother West Wind stories–and supported, listened, and loved me unconditionally.

He was just always there for me, no matter what–until he left this earth for his heavenly home.

But on Father’s Day, I felt his presence while I enjoyed Coffee with a Cardinal.

In January, a week after Dad’s Celebration of Life, I traveled up north to Traverse City with two dear friends. I was in a rather messy place, following a busy holiday season and saying goodbye to Dad, so my emotions were all over the place.

During our trip, we visited Mawby Vineyard–a favorite spot of ours out on the gorgeous Leelanau Peninsula. I’d never traveled to the area in the wintertime and this day was snowy, very chilly, and stunning with blue-grey winter skies. We sat together enjoying our glasses of sparkling when I noticed a cardinal outside under a small leaf-less tree. My friend Cheryl is a bird-watcher and pointed out both the male and female cardinal. I don’t recall ever seeing a pair before that afternoon.

Then she told me that Cardinals are symbolic of an Angel watching over you. I did a bit of research after the weekend and discovered that when God sends a cardinal, it’s said to bring a message of comfort–kind of an angelic “Hang In There.” Cardinals are considered spiritual messengers coming from God to offer reassurance and guidance in times of distress. They provide hope during turmoil, bringing a reminder to stay peaceful and remember you are not alone.

Cardinals are also the State Bird of Indiana, where I was born and raised and my dad lived his entire life.

Returning home from that trip, I discovered a pair of cardinals playing in the Rosebud Tree that my family gave me one Mother’s Day several years past. Since then, I hear his song daily. I can’t always see him as he’s hidden above in the trees surrounding our backyard, but I know he’s there. I even saw a cardinal when traveling to Caseville on Memorial Day weekend–a weekend I traditionally spent with Dad and my Indiana family. The cardinal landed on the chair I had just vacated. As I stood at the door watching him, he turned his head my way, sharing a burst of song before flying back into the sky. I felt a though he’d just said Hello in the language of birds!

On learning of my dad’s passing, my neighbor hand-crafted me a pillow, featuring cardinals, telling me they represent divine communication from a loved one who passed away, comforting those they left behind and bringing a message of peace. A bird I’d really never noticed before seems to surround me these days. It’s song clear and identifiable on a daily basis now. And I honestly can say that I do not recall ever hearing the cardinal song or even seeing a cardinal in my backyard before this year.

So on Sunday morning, my cat Ellie woke me early and we came downstairs to the sunroom together. I was feeling a lot of emotion that morning as it was the first time I wouldn’t hear his voice when I offered him a message of Father’s Day love. However, no sooner had I sat down with my coffee then I heard the song of the cardinal. We sat together, him singing loudly from a hidden place in a nearby tree and me sipping coffee–enjoying a moment together.

Hello, Daddy. Happy Father’s Day.