The morning they were leaving we still had about 50 that hadn’t been stuffed in the suitcases. I decided I would work at stuffing the rest in and prayed the entire way that they would all fit. I prayed that the weight of the suitcases would not exceed the limit and that God would make some things ‘weightless’ in order to get it all in.

As I was stuffing the remaining little animals in, I noticed a little red Beanie Baby Cardinal. I have always found birds quite beautiful: the cardinal, the hummingbird, the blue jay, the blue bird and the robin top my favorites. When I noticed the cardinal I set it aside and just held it for a minute, admiring how brilliant and beautiful it was. I noticed there was a spot to squeeze it and when I did it chirped. I smiled to myself thinking, “what a sweet little stuffed animal” and what an extra treat that it chirped. I kept looking at it and enjoying it as I finished packing. It was by far my favorite of all 207.

When it was almost time for them to leave, I silently whispered a prayer for the little one in Africa who would get the cardinal – that they would enjoy it as much I did and be someone really, really special. With that I stuffed it in the last empty spot and zipped up the suitcase. I never mentioned the cardinal to anyone, just that little whispered prayer to the Lord .

I forgot about the cardinal over the next few days. Eventually I was able to talk to Emmy and ask her about the stuffed animals she had brought. Was she able to give them out yet and were the kids excited to get them? The first thing she said was, “Mom did the see the red cardinal? Well mom I was giving the kids the stuffed animals and there was an orphanage worker watching. She was smiling and laughing and enjoying the kids getting them so much. I then noticed that she was looking longingly at me giving them out. I realized Mom that maybe she wanted one. So I motioned to ask if she would like one? She shook her head ‘yes’. I took and handed her that red cardinal. Mom she laughed and smiled and loved that cardinal. Then Mom I squeezed it for her and she started to giggle and laugh even louder – she totally loved that it chirped!”

I started to cry as I excitedly told Emma about my prayer. Imagine – Only the Lord had heard my little prayer but He had lovingly set it up so that of all the 207 stuffed animals Emma could have possibly given to that precious lady it was my very favorite – the red cardinal. I am so tickled that a lady who is spending her days caring for little orphans was the recipient of such a sweet little gift. This treasured lady is doing what I wished I was doing if I could (but I can’t – yet). She is my hero and God sent a sweet reminder to me, once again, that He loves me and that He cares about even little stuffed animals that chirp. He even cares enough to prompt Emma to take a picture of this precious lady with her new little cardinal.