Sign of the Hummingbird

Since Father's Day is coming up soon, I thought this would be the perfect time to introduce you to mine. 

My father's name is Roland Jackson.  He loved hummingbirds. He had one of those feeders just outside of his window, so he could see them up close.  He once found one trapped inside his van, and he carefully captured it in his hands and set it free.  He marveled at it's tiny size, beauty and strength. 

Roland Jackson

He was born during the depression and had a very hard childhood.  He never knew his father, went to bed many nights hungry, lived in a one room shack with eight brothers and sisters, witnessed his older sister, his best friend and protector, get killed when he was only nine years old, had his face almost burned off at the age of 14, spent several years in reform school as a teenager, endured three years in Moundsville Penitentiary, for a crime he didn't commit, all before the age of 21.

My father turned his life around, a few years after being released from prison, got married, started a family, and owned and operated his own business.

Dad, Mom, my brother and me at J & D Grocery.

My father was a loving man, and would give just about anything he had, to anyone who needed it.  He believed in the power of prayer and would receive calls all hours of the day and night, to come pray for someone who was sick, or down and out.  He spent many weekends going to the jails and prisons, to spread hope, love and prayer with the inmates, or anyone else who might need it.

I, of course, was Daddy's little girl, and loved him very much.

Daddy and me.

He suffered a stroke, and we were told he was passing in February 2006.  I thought my heart would break.

I believe, that even though the physical body may pass on, our spirit is still here.  This gave me the strength I needed to say goodbye.

As my father lay there unconscious, I whispered in his ear, how much I loved him, how blessed I had been to be his daughter, and how proud I was of him.  

I told him that I believed he would still be able to communicate with me after he passed over, and to send me the sign of a hummingbird, as proof.

I wasn't sure if he even heard me or not, but I trusted, that he did.

Three days later we buried my father, and on the way to the cemetery, I looked at the snow covered ground and thought there was no way I would be seeing a hummingbird that day.  I asked him for one anyway.  Dad, if you can still hear me, send me the sign.

A few hours later, my Sweetie, in an effort to comfort me and take my mind off things, suggested we watch something.  

We had been watching the 1970's Kung Fu series starring David Carradine, so we decided to watch our next episode.

      "Never assume that because a man has no eyes, he cannot see."
                                                                                   Master Po

As the show began, the camera zoomed in up close on a hummingbird and just held there.  The camera held there so long, that my Sweetie said, "what's up with the hummingbird?"

It's my Dad! I exclaimed, and started to cry.  He's sending me the sign! He can hear me, he's still here!

I had to explain this to my Sweetie, because I hadn't told anyone, just my Dad. 

Since then, there have many times my Dad has answered me, and sent me the sign of the hummingbird.  I'll share more of them in future posts.

In the meantime, I send my Dad, all my love. Happy Father's Day, every day.


Love and Luck,
Lucky Lady