“A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.” ~ Denis Waitley

I spotted the flickering blotch of red. Could it be? Squinting my eyes hard, I saw him! There he stood, outside the window, inside the yellow—a beautiful, blazing red cardinal.

“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” ~ Joseph Campbell

As February made way for March it arrived full-force as a roaring lion. The daffodils bloomed, then froze as temperatures plunged. Their icy petals drooped to the ground as if they wouldn’t survive.

“We are all alike, on the inside.” ~ Mark Twain

Peering out my window it was sad to see the cheery yellow blooms hunched over, bearing the last weight of winter, striving to usher in spring. How I look forward to their arrival every year! A sign that winter will soon be over.

While admiring their tenacity to overcome this harshest of winters, I spotted the bird. I’ve seen him before but he is usually gone before I can get the camera. This time I hoped he’d stay. And he did!

“The fatal metaphor of progress, which means leaving things behind us, has utterly obscured the real idea of growth, which means leaving things inside us.” ~ Gilbert K. Chesterton

From my distance I could barely make him out as that flower bed is a number of yards away. I’ve cropped the photos significantly because I thought his poses were so charming. Lack of clarity is sometimes exchanged for color and under these less-than-ideal circumstances I was grateful to capture anything close to resembling what I saw.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ~ Maya Angelou

And I am happy to report that following this last blast of cold air, the daffodils prevailed. They raised their petals high again! {I’ll share those pictures in another post.}

But on this dreary winter day this lovely cardinal, inside the daffodils, brought a big smile to my face. I hope he does the same for you. 🙂
Peace, Alexandria

“Happiness is an inside job.” ~William Arthur Ward