http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0
I was "working" in the library with my friends Emmy, Becca and Annie, when we started playing our favorite songs. I played a song by Plumb entitled 'In My Arms' and told them that the artist wrote it for her son. Emmy is commonly referred to as mine and Annie's daughter, and we looked at her in wonderment laughing at how big she's gotten. Annie turned serious and said she can't believe we'll all have actual children over our own, and the day will come where they won't want us. We each talked about how we can clearly remember trying to avoid our parents, and not realizing how much it must have hurt them. Emmy told me and Annie she would never do that to us, being our child and all. We laughed, but I couldn't help imagine my mom and how perfect and wonderful she is to me now. I imagined her driving away after dropping me off on my first day of high school with tears in her eyes after I slammed the door in her face.
Annie directed me to 99 Balloons, saying it would be something I could analyze for my blog post. I had never heard of it and her ideas are usually pretty solid so I figured I'd look. As i began watching I could immediately distinguish the joy in the narrator's voice. But as the video continued I started to realize this wasn't only a video of new life, but of great loss.
The dad begins by talking about the arrival of his son, and of the disease that will follow his birth. He talks about the tragedy as if it is common in every birth, with no tone of anger or disappointment in his voice. A few weeks later, their son is born and given the name Eliot. He is connected to tubes and will be for the remainder of his life. Feeding is done throughout the day and night, and the dad talks about how it is his and his wife's favorite thing to do. Whether it be at 4p.m. or 3a.m. they find no greater joy than taking care of their son and meeting his every need. Each day of his life is celebrated by dear friends and family, they sing and make a cake for Eliot to commemorate the event. As day 99 of Eliot's life approaches, the dad talks about the miracle of his son still being alive. On day 99, Eliot goes home to be with Jesus, bringing an end to his short time on earth.
99 balloons are released at Eliot's funeral. The video ends with the dad saying goodbye to his son, as if this was a conversation. I found myself asking how the father was able to accept the death of his only child without asking why. He realized from the beginning that his son's life was not meant to reflect pain. Eliot was giving more by living 99 days than most of do in living 99 years. His short life on earth was a gift, and his dad knew he was blessed to receive him.
I experience tragedy, but the interpretation of its meaning is sourced in how i feel about it. Why did this happen (to me)? How will this change life (for me)? What will the future be like (for me)? How would it look if i took myself out of the situation, and changed the end of the previous sentences to focus around someone besides myself? I think I would be making a greater impact by living my life like Eliot. one day at a time. Living as if today was my last, remembering that God gives, God takes, and His name will ever be blessed- Job 1:21.
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