Why the Cardinal?

While creating the cover for her book, Paula reviewed several professionally designed concepts but felt that none of them truly captured the heart of her message. Her sister suggested adding a small red cardinal to the cover, and Paula spent two days refining the design until it finally felt complete.

The next morning, after seeing the finished cover, Paula's husband noticed a bright red cardinal sitting just outside their window—a place where he had never seen one before. He took a photo and told Paula he believed it was a beautiful confirmation that the cover design was exactly as it should be.

Since then, the cardinal has become a special reminder for Paula to pause, turn her attention toward God, and listen for His voice. The cardinal is not intended to represent a supernatural sign or a message from God. Instead, it is a personal symbol that points beyond creation to the Creator. Inspired by Scripture, where Jesus reminds us to look at the birds as evidence of the Father's care, The Listening Cardinal serves as a quiet reminder that God is always near.