Max's Blessing, read by Kate

Kate explained the significance of the balloons to our family and friends, and then gave a blessing before we released them up into the sky. Here is what she said.

These are not just any old balloons. They cost $1.50 each, so I’ve been instructed to explain their significance lest you think they are just for tawdry decoration.

There are 23 balloons of baby blue – one for each of the weeks that Max lived, and kicked, and tumbled.

There are 17 pearl white balloons that signify each of the weeks he had still to grow.

There is one lone, sunny, yellow balloon. Yellow represents memory. - memories of Max, his heart and his spirit, the things we all promise here today that we will never, ever forget.

We send these balloons to the grey clouds to encourage them to show us a silver lining. We send these balloons to Max, wherever he may be, so that he will know we miss him, we love him, that we let him go.

Darling Max,

Into the freedom of wind and sunshine
We let you go
Into the dance of the stars and the planets
We let you go
Into the wind’s breath and the hands of the star maker
We let you go
We love you, we miss you, we want you to be happy
Go safely, go dancing, go running home.

As the balloons caught the wind and flew away, we all joined hands as this song played. I cried a lot during it. It was a beautiful moment.