The following is a true story and happened about eight years ago when our daughter was four years old……..
On a Saturday, I had taken my daughter to meet my sister-in-law and her son for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we let the kids delight in accepting the balloon the hostess offered them. Now, you parents know that taking the balloon from the restaurant can be a challenge because kids rarely heed the warning to hang on to your balloon or it’s gone! Just getting in the car and buckling everyone without losing the balloon is a major accomplishment. We only made it fifty yards out the door, just beside the car when I heard the dreaded gasp and saw my daughter’s white balloon rising past my head. I reached in vain and for a moment, we silently watched it float further and further away. Then came the tears. There is something just so sad witnessing a child watching their beloved balloon disappear into the sky with big crocodile tears coming down their cheeks. Sniff!
Here’s where I as the “Mom” tried to make it all better. I told my daughter that Jesus who just loves balloons would be thrilled that she decided to share her balloon with him. She didn’t look convinced. The car ride home was a constant barrage of, “Why does Jesus like balloons?” and “Will he play with it?” questions. I just kept telling her it was ok and yes Jesus loved everything that she loved and I thought he would have a fabulous time with her white balloon. All the while, I thought either we have started a new tradition with releasing balloons outside of restaurants or she may start telling Jesus, “No!” when she is given a balloon. Oh Yee, of little faith!
The next day was Sunday and our daughter was still talking about that balloon that Jesus now had and she wondered how he played with it. We had gone to church as we always do and headed home in the nasty pouring rain. Please note that I said it was raining and the air was calm. We had only been on the road a couple stoplights when it happened.
As we were getting closer to the next intersection, my husband and I saw it at about the same time. A single, slow moving light blue balloon with a white ribbon dangling from it heading right for our car! I was literally braking for the stoplight and my husband rolls down his window, reaches out just about a foot and the string of the balloon appears to just fall in his hand. I think we both stared at it for a moment. My husband turns to our daughter sitting in the backseat and says, “Guess what? Jesus wanted you to have a balloon, too and made it blue!” He handed her the balloon and if you could have seen the look on her face, your heart would have melted! It was precious.
God’s timing was perfect! My husband and I at that time were really making an effort to grow in our relationship with God not just for our sake, but also for our children’s sake. I know that the whole balloon experience was meant to help us in showing our young daughter the pleasure and delight of our Father’s love. It also reinforced for us the power of our God. Our faith caused us not to count this gift as a coincidence, it was a God incident. I don’t look at many moments as some may by calling them coincidences, I know that my Jesus is very much alive and a part of my everyday life no matter how simple or complex. What a gift! He has risen, He has risen indeed!
Prayer and blessings……
Calisa Fitzpatrick
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