As I was grabbing a few things at a local market, a grandpa walked by with his young grandson toting a half-deflated helium balloon. The little guy was beaming ear to ear, and the contagious smile made its way to my face. I arrived at the checkout counter only to discover the boy and his grandpa in front of me again. He was still just as excited and shouted with glee at me, "I just love my balloon!"
The cashier apologetically explained to the grandpa that their helium tank had just run out and asked if he still wanted to get the half-deflated balloon. He gave the no skin off my back sort of nod and paid for that saggy piece of foil that his grandson saw as a half-filled world of possibilities.
Needless to say, that moment made my day. Grandpa saw the joy that filled his grandson's world with that balloon. He didn't try to talk him out of it. He just let him have the joy. The boy didn't see a deflated mess like most people would have. To him, he was holding on to a string attached to something beautiful.
It is easy to get stuck in the rut of seeing the deflated. Life has a way of throwing that stuff at you. But, we have the choice of focusing on the blessing or the burden, for those things are so closely intertwined here.
For these next two weeks before Thanksgiving, I urge you to intentionally look at the blessings. Have your family join you. Write them down. See them. Notice how many blessings there are in your lives and make that your focus. See the Balloon Half-Full!
Ideas for your family to watch your blessings visibly add up before Thanksgiving Day:
Create a tree trunk and branches out of construction paper or cardstock and stick to a commonly visible wall. Write something you are thankful for on a fall-colored paper leaf and add it to the tree. Numerous people who came to our house throughout the years would typically add a few leaves up there, as well.
Write down your thankfuls on a tablecloth with fabric markers. You can reuse this year after year remembering blessings from years past and adding new ones from the current year. A timeline of thankfuls!
Create a Thanksgiving paper chain, writing a blessing on each link.
Fill a cornucopia with fruits and vegetables of thankfulness (paper or 3D).
Fill a vase with silk flowers, attaching a strip of paper on the stem to write the blessing.
May your Thanksgiving be glorious and full of joy!
Thanks for the reminders and encouragement!