Red Balloons

Let me get this right out in the open.  I'm not a crier. 

I bet you're shocked.  Well, it's true!  I am not a crier.  I am not a weeper.  Yes, I cry.  Yes, sometimes I even weep.  I have even sobbed on occasion.  Some of you have been there for it, most of you will never see me even well up.

Well, that is unless you were in church this morning.

This morning was Pentacost Sunday, and in true United Methodist fashion, we celebrated with balloons.  No, actually it was really cool.  Balloons lined the staircases, and there were plenty for every child to take one home. 

So this all began, of course, with a balloon.

A red balloon to be specific.  Our Senior Pastor carried it up front with him this morning to make sure the kids saw the balloon, and to make sure that every child knew that they could take one home with them.  So he held the balloon up front during the morning announcements, handing it to our Associate after he made his point.  When our Associate got up to begin the call to worship, he handed it back to the Senior Pastor.  Therein began the problem, so the Senior Pastor got my attention, and he asked me to come get the balloon and pass it on to someone else.

Now, since it was Memorial Day weekend, there weren't a whole lot of children in the congregation, but as I scanned the room, my eyes fell on one little girl.  As I began to walk toward her, her eyes lit up in excitement and she reached for the balloon, so excited to be chosen.  So her parents tied the balloon to her wrist.

Great so far?  I'm not to the welling up yet.  Just wait...it's coming!

I was giving the children's sermon this morning, having switched with someone else.  I wasn't even on the schedule today, but I am so glad the other person wasn't able to do it.

When the children came up, here came the child with the red balloon.  Keep in mind that she is in preschool, and isn't more than four years old.

Our kids kneel at the rail for children's sermon, and today we of course talked about the Holy Spirit who came like a mighty rushing wind.  We talked about how we can't see the wind, but we can see what the wind does to those things around us.  How we can't see God with our eyes, but we can see the good God does all around us.  Of course, I had to turn on a fan with streamers attached to it to illustrate my point, because that's just what I do!  A great time was had by all. 

I ended with a prayer, and when I said "Let us Pray", the little girl with the red balloon scrunched her eyes up so tightly and folded her hands and was praying so, so hard.  After the "Amen", most of the children returned right to their seats.  Except the girl with the red balloon.  I put the microphone down and I turned to see her asking me to come closer.  I bent down and said, "What's up sweetie?" 

And do you know what that sweetie said?  In her four year and four hundred year old wisdom, she leaned in and whispered to me...

"God does everything good in our lives."

See, tears.  Even now, 10 hours later, I am still welling up.  What wisdom!  What observance!  "God does everything good in our lives." 

Think about all those good things in your life.  Family?  God.  Friends?  God.  Church?  God.  Pets?  God.

God does everything good in our lives.  Shame on me that it took a four year old to remind me.

Be sick...be loved.

T