Cardinal Meaning

Saturday July 29, 2019: Wedding of Kailey and Peter Warrichaiet
(Reflections from Keaton Hilby)

For the last 12+ months we had been anticipating this day.  As the days grew closer, I had a knot in my throat. I was excited for Kailey, but worried about the void that would be as clear as ever.  I told myself it wouldn’t be that hard, but tears welled up in my eyes every time I thought about the day. I often envision what his smile would have been like seeing her for the first time, watching them embrace, and his firm grip as he shook Peter’s hand. While I was happy to take his place, I kept thinking, “if only he could be here for one more day, even if it was just for Kailey.”

While decorating the reception hall on Saturday morning, my fiancé, Erin, and I were adding final touches to a table, when all of a sudden something was tapping on the window.  A cardinal had appeared and was trying to get into the room where we were setting up! Erin and I quickly called for Kailey to come quick.  Kailey came running, but we were afraid we had scared the cardinal away.  After a few seconds of looking, it reappeared from under the bush.  It bounced around for a few seconds, then fluttered up to the top of the bush.  It stopped, cocked its head and looked at us standing there. It seemed as though time had stopped. Just Kailey, the cardinal, and me. As quickly as it came, it left us. We hugged. We cried. We smiled. I have seen dozens of cardinals, but never for more than a few seconds; this was different. The feeling couldn’t have been clearer.

About a half hour after we experienced the cardinal, Grandma Schmig returned to the venue to bring us a few more items for setup.  As she walked in, she stopped and smiled and said: “Keaton, when I got home I had a visitor.”  She proceeded to tell me that she was about to pull into her driveway when a cardinal swooped in front of her car. Not wanting to hit it, she stopped and thought ‘get out of the way dummy.’  The cardinal then landed on her mailbox and looked at her.  At that point she said, “That cardinal was Kevin telling me to slow down and stop rushing. Today was going to be ok.”

A cardinal is a representative of a loved one who has passed. When you see one, it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you most need them or miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as despair to let you know they will always be with you.

Photo by Jacob Hilby

The day ended up being near perfect.  It was hot, but the sun was shining, and there was a slight breeze, not a typical St. Joseph’s Ridge day.  There were some surprises (both good and bad).  The getaway car sputtered to a stop less than a mile from the church, but in a spot that made it easy to get to our cousin’s, the Burns’, house so that Kailey still got her wish of getting pictures with it. That also meant that Peter got to take his bride away in his dream car, a GMC Caballero.  Another surprise (for Kailey) came when Mom changed up the ‘father daughter’ dance song.  The song was changed to Fathers and Daughters by Michael Bolton, with Dad’s voice taken from home videos overlaid into the musical interludes. I was able to share the dance with both Grandpa’s who have undoubtedly played a big role in Kailey’s life as well. She was then able to dance with most of her uncles to You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell.  There were tears. Lots of them.

The day left us with so much to be thankful for:

·      For Peter and his family

·      A day filled with love surrounded by family and friends

·      Signs from God, that we’re all going to be ok because of those he has sent to watch over us

·      The memories of loved ones

“God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders,
and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will." 

Hebrews 2:4