In His Loving Arms

I must have blogging fever this week.
I added music to this post if you feel like turning on your speakers.

July 8th
Today we attended the funeral of little four year-old Caleb Taylor (mentioned in previous posts). He died on Sunday night in his Nana’s home and arms with his mother by his side. One of the saddest things about Caleb's death was that even though he had serious complications with his heart, he got to live and act like a normal 4yr old boy right up until the day of his death - when his heart finally decided to give up.

It is very common culture in NZ that the body of a deceased person is taken home and ‘rests’ in their house for a few days before the funeral. When Tony went to Caleb’s house the night before the funeral he was invited in to see Caleb in his bedroom, laying in his bed as if he was sleeping - dressed like any other little boy; half covered with his Thomas bedspread.

The funeral for Caleb was incredibly special, touching and emotional - there wasn’t a dry eye in the congregation. Even the Bishop and counsellors seated in the stand had blurry red eyes. Caleb’s small and glossy white coffin sat below the pulpit in the chapel as family and cousins came up to shed tears and talk about his sweet little spirit.


The funeral begun with all the little children from his ‘Mum and Bubs’ group singing together. Next, two of Caleb’s four year-old cousins repeated after their mums all the things they liked to do together (play mum and dads, pick their noses & play hide and seek.) The three little cousins who played together nearly everyday were often called the Three Musketeers.

Then Caleb’s mum, Fiona, surprised everyone by getting up to speak. She was determined to have the courage for Caleb and stayed up until 4am preparing what she wanted to say. She talked of the journey her and Caleb had taken together since the day he was born. She reflected on the three open heart surgerys Caleb had been through; his first was at six weeks old. She shared memories of seeing her little boy recover in a hospital bed with tubes all over the place and yet was always amazed at how quickly he bounced back, how seldom he complained, and how quickly he would be back to smiling and running around again. Through her tears of sorrow and heartache she also shared how much Caleb had blessed and brought so much into her life.

The ‘Polkadot’ girls (also mentioned in my Mother's Day Post) sung a sweet version of their ‘Thank you’ song in beautiful harmony - even a person with the hardest heart would've crumbled at the words to the song and how beautiful their voices were. Caleb’s Nana spoke and then two of his aunties sung a song. The Nana shared how she loved to help put Caleb to bed at night and how he loved it when she would sing his favourite songs, one of them being Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The day before Caleb passed she shared a story of how Caleb told her someone was knocking at the front door. She responded to him saying: "What is it darling, there's no one there." "Yes, Nana someone's there, someone's knocking." She opened the door, looked out and didn't see anyone. "Over there Nana, there they are by the tree." She couldn't see anything at all, but Caleb could and told his Nana there were "three of them" motioning him to come with them. And then they were gone. Caleb's nana also related a time when Caleb told her, "Nana, I see your cat." She was so confused as Caleb was too little to remember her cat that had passed away over three years ago, but he was very adamant about what he could see. She knew his time had come and that half his spirit was already connected again to the Spirit World.

Caleb's teenage sister Amber also wrote and sung a song called 'My Little Miracle'. She sung while her friend played the guitar beside her and then the two friends sung together. Once again the heartfelt lyrics moved everybody to tears.

Part of the cultural hall was covered in pictures of the Wiggles and Thomas the Tank Engine – two things Caleb loved. The refreshments were all food that Caleb would have loved and typical Kiwi birthday birthday party food: sausage rolls, polonies, wafers, cake, lollies, kiwifruit, etc.

Part of today was a celebration of Caleb's short life and what a fighter he was. He will always be remembered for his big blue eyes, big contagious smile and blond curly hair.

Caleb leaves behind his 16 year-old sister Amber, his 18 month-old brother Finnley and a very sad Mummy.

May He rest in peace and be forever in His Loving Arms.