The Balloon That Lifted More Than Spirits
I had a birthday recently, and a few of the grandchildren dropped by with a mini party of sorts. It was a drive-by birthday party, complete with cupcakes, homemade cards, a gift, and a birthday balloon that said, “Happy Birthday.” Four grandchildren piled out of the van, each carrying one of the items. As I opened the door to receive my surprise celebration, my soon-to-be three-year-old grandson was bent over in tears saying, “Oh no…the balloon!” At this point, I looked up as the helium-filled birthday balloon slipped from his hands and flew upward toward the clouds.
I went into action trying to reduce my grandson’s suffering over this loss, “Oh how I love to watch the balloon fly in the sky! It’s beautiful! Look, it glows against the sky,” and on and on. Finally, he was somewhat relieved when he was allowed to carry another gift to me, but the tears were not over for the night. About two hours later, I was helping my almost three-year-old granddaughter get ready for bed. She had been joyful all evening, but when I thanked her for my present, she suddenly remembered the balloon flying away and she began to cry because I had not received my birthday balloon!
The following day, I went to Dollar General and bought a mylar birthday balloon and stopped by the twins’ home to show them that my birthday balloon had returned safely. Instantly, they were relieved of the previous day’s suffering! (Grandparents will do most anything for a crying grandchild!) I suspect that all my readers are moved by the tears of small children and often attempt to comfort the small ones in their anguish.
Psalm 56:8: “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?”
In the middle of David’s song that indicated both his fear and his faith, the psalmist said that he was aware that God kept count of his tossing, or suffering, so much so that he places his tears in a bottle and keeps his concerns in a book. Certainly, David is using poetry to express his confidence in God’s overwhelming care for his children. I doubt that God needs a scrapbook of clippings to remind him of our struggles or to celebrate our successes. Yet we shouldn’t discount David’s inspired confidence that God never forgets our needs and seeks to comfort us when we grieve or experience difficulties. Maybe in some way David’s words connect to John’s vision in Revelation 5:8 where we see that in heaven there are golden bowls full of incense that are the collected prayers of the saints.
If we go to extremes to show our compassion and offer comfort to the children and grandchildren we love so dearly, then I believe it is reasonable to consider and to believe that God never forgets us and is always reaching toward us in our moments of grief. But it is likewise reasonable to consider that as we are the hands and feet of Jesus, we are called to act compassionately to those who suffer as an extension and example of God’s transformative work in our hearts and minds.
My act of kindness to two distressed two-year-olds cost me about 10 minutes and a $1.50 plus tax. The joy and surprise on their faces when I showed up with the balloon was worth the price.
Somewhere near you today there is someone who might need 10 minutes of your time, and you might be the one God wants to use to lighten someone’s load and to restore their confidence that there is a God who cares for them.
Father, we thank you for your love for us. Thank you for meeting us in our moments of need. Today we ask that you use us to bring comfort and encouragement to someone who needs to see you at work in their lives. In Jesus name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 56:8; Revelation 5:8 ESV
Photo by Morgan Lane on Unsplash
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