Jonas

Sweet Jonas passed away last night. He would have been three in less than a month. I am heartbroken for the Coleman family, and pray for their peace at this time. Jonas--you, your beautiful blue eyes and your sweet spirit will not be forgotten.

These are the lyrics to 'Butterfly' by the Imagination Movers. If you know the song, it is an upbeat tune, but the lyrics have always touched me and made me think of our SMA/SMARD kiddos. I can't listen to it without crying. I thought it might be appropriate, so here it is:

Butterfly won't you spread your wings,
Above the green grass and everything.
Got to fly.
Every color floating under the sun,
Paint a picture for everyone.
In the sky.
Butterfly won't you fly away,
A flash of color on a sunny day.
Friend of mine, won't you spread your wings and fly,
(Bye bye, butterfly, hope he's never far away.)

Butterfly floating in the breeze,
Across the flowers and over trees.
High and low.
Flitter out, putting on a show,
Fly away when I get too close.
Where'd you go?

Butterfly, time to fly away,
A flash of color on a sunny day.
Friend of mine, won't you spread your wings and fly,
(Bye bye, butterfly, hope he's never far away.)

Pretty little butterfly,
Painting pictures in the sky.
A flash of color overhead,
Purple, yellow, bronze and red.
(Bye bye butterfly)
Pretty little butterfly,
(I hope he's never far away)
Hope you're never far away,
(Hope he's never far away)
Hope to see you in the sky,
(Hope he's never far away)
Flying on a sunny day.
Butterfly.

The symbol of the butterfly is a powerful one for me, always has been. It has always struck me as a perfect symbol for a child who can't move on their own, as well as being a good description for these kids--they come, they touch our lives in so many ways, and then they've flown away.

Jonas is now free to spread his wings and fly. We will be looking for you on sunny days, and hope you're never far away.