Balloons to Heaven

"O Death where is thy sting?

O grave where is thy victory?"

1 Cor 15:55

Last night, we were privileged to participate in Balloons to Heaven when people the world over released blue and gold balloons to celebrate the life of Declan Black Carmical (August 26, 2009- August 18, 2010).

Acquiring the 22 balloons that we released was a kind of comedy of errors. First, two of the balloons popped in the parking lot before we could wrestle them into the car. I marched back into the store where the manager blew up replacement balloons. Not two feet out the door again, the wind grabbed the balloons, whipping them around. They jumped right off their strings and sailed into the sky prompting laughter from the teenage Randalls employee working by the door. He offered to help me himself, blew up two more balloons, tying them more securely and I finally made it to the van, balloons intact.

At home, I tied a paper to each balloon stating the date it was released, from where and the information about Declan's website. After dinner, we headed to our neighbors' house where their four children prayed with us and helped give the balloons a proper send off. As we watched the balloons dance heavenward---one for each of our nieces and nephews (Cecilia, Joseph, Rachel, Alex, Zack, Matthew, Ashley, Jonathan, Paige, Drew, Josie, Brendan, Ryan, Lauren, Sean and Anya) one each for Madeleine, Mia, Grace, Sophie and Ella and one for my childhood friend Beth, Declan's aunt---I thought of the verse "O Death, where is thy sting?" The balloon send-off was such a whimsical thing to do, in such contrast with the somber events of earlier in the week. The death of a son or daughter is such an incredibly horrible, even senseless, thing but it would be a far worse to go through it without being able to see with the eyes of faith that he is now well, happy, healthy and whole in heaven.

Beth and her family, particularly the four Carmical siblings, have been such a witness through this to the power of family and love to dispel the darkness in a time of great suffering. To me that's what family does--it says to the world, "good times, bad times, we stand together." I am so impressed by them all.

When you get a moment, please visit Declan's website to read more of their story and even leave them a message www.declansjourney.com