Balloons and Children

[soso]

Balloons and Children

“My time has not yet come.” John 2:4

I (jcd) once attended a wedding /in a beautiful garden setting.

After the minister told the groom to kiss the bride, about 150 colorful, helium‐filled balloons were released into the blue sky.

Within a few seconds the balloons were scattered, some/ rising hundreds of feet /overhead and others /cruising toward the horizon. A few balloons struggled /to clear the upper branches of the trees, while the showoffs became mere pinpoints of color/ in the sky.

Like balloons, some boys and girls are born with more helium than others.

They soar effortlessly /to the heights, while others wobble dangerously close to the trees. Their frantic folks run along underneath, huffing and puffing /to keep them airborne.

Are you a parent /of a low‐flying child?

Over the years, I’ve worked with hundreds of families //whose children were struggling /in one way or another.
 Based on what I’ve seen, let me pass along a word of encouragement /to worried parents:

Sometimes [the child //who has the most trouble /getting off the ground] eventually reaches the greatest height!


* huffing and puffing /
 1 breathe heavily while making a great physical effort: They huffed and puffed as they carried the sofa upstairs.
2 make it obvious that you are annoyed about something without doing anything to change the situation: After much huffing and puffing, he agreed to help.
* huff; puff