DELANEY

I usually don't write about kids dying.  It's one of those unbearably sad things and seems to serve no purpose except to evoke tears.

This is different because of the little girl. Delaney lives in rural Colorado...they didn't divulge her age, just saying that they "celebrated" an early birthday because she has a rare brain cancer that only affects about 200 people in the entire country in a year.  No cure, no hope of a miracle.

I guess that's what drew me to this story and to watch it rather than to choose to turn off the TV...I wanted to see what this tiny little soul who looks to me to be about 5 years old, had to say.

Delaney loves animals, loves to paint, and loves the sky.  She will be gone within the next few weeks.  Her parents have accepted the inevitable and they were all so beautifully non-dramatic...which made their palpable sadness even more poignant.

Delaney's Mom said that Delaney keeps saying "Mom, I'm so lucky...I'm going to die."  Her Mom asked her "Who told you that?"  Delaney answered:  "God."

I have long believed that if you want to know what and who God really is, talk to really little kids, because they are so close to having been with God.  I believe that Delaney still remembers what it felt like to be there.

Then the newscaster asked Delaney if she had a message for people who were not dying.  Delaney said:
"You should all hug each other...and you should have color in your lives."

Delaney, I agree.  I will be thinking of you as you journey back to your status as an angel.