The Last Balloon

The bright morning sun had just peeked over the mountains when six-year-old Tullis Smith opened his eyes and stared sleepily at the birthday balloon tied to the foot of his bed. A lazy breeze stirred through the open window, causing the red balloon to bob gently at the end of its tether.
Tullis sat up in bed. Gradually, his mind cleared of the grogginess of sleep. He blinked and rubbed his eyes. Then he looked at the balloon again -- a gift from his father. In fact, it was the only birthday gift that he had gotten from his Dad. But he treasured it above all the grander gifts he had received from his family and friends the day before.

The boy slowly climbed out of bed and padded to the window. The early May morning was alive with the sound of birds. Beads of dew sparkled in the sunlight. In his mother's well-tended garden below bloomed the red and yellow tulips his father had planted for her last autumn. All in all, it was a glorious morning to be alive.

Tullis knew that his mother was downstairs in the kitchen fixing a hot breakfast for him and his older brother. All the vestiges of his birthday celebration would be gone by now. The cake and ice cream were eaten, the decorations were put away until the next party.

Tullis turned from the window. His birthday balloon again commanded his attention. He read well enough to make out the lettering on the side. "Happy Birthday, son," his Dad had scrawled on the side of the red foil with a black magic marker. His mother gave Tullis the balloon before the party started. "He was going to buy you some other things," she said with tears in her eyes, "but there just wasn't enough time. This was all he could manage."

Could it have been only seven days ago that the ambulance had come so early in the morning to take his father away? The pain in his chest was terrible, his mother said as she told her sons the news that their father was never coming home again. It all seemed like an eternity ago to Tullis.

"I love you, Daddy," the little boy murmured as he looked at his birthday balloon one last time Then he quietly left his room to prepare for school.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

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Ed Price spent 35 years in print and broadcast journalism. He is author of 15 books. After becoming an ordained minister he settled with his wife on a farm in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, to study God's word and to write. Ed and Patty are the parents of three girls, have one grandchild, and cater to the every whim of two spoiled cats.
© 2008 Ed Price - All rights reserved. Visit his website, The Loving Heart.

This column is used with permission.