BALLOONS
Written by Deborah
1.16.04
All kids seem to love having a balloon. Is it the color or the rounded shape? It is that a good helium balloon will dance in the air or is it that they can toss them around and they usually don't break? I'm not sure why or what it is and it doesn't matter anyway. Kids just seem to enjoy and understand balloons. They know how to hold a balloon tightly in their fingers and they understand that blowing air into it makes the balloon get bigger. As adults, we would do well to "get" that idea too--that putting even mild effort into a balloon makes it get bigger.
So it goes with our relationships with others. Whatever we think about others will naturally blow up in our minds. Our thoughts and opinions of others will automatically "balloon" into bigger and greater thoughts (greater doesn't equal better).
In every relationship this "balloon" principle works.
Friendship: "I think he or she is mad at me." (Yep, I knew it--he or she hasn't called me in ___days. Why what did I do to alter our relationship--oh, I know…I think…well, he or she will just have to get over being upset w/me. I wonder what I did…yep-another hour, another day, another week, another…and I still haven't heard from him or her. That's it, I've had it, this friendship is over--the door swings both ways you know…)
On the job: "I think my boss/co-worker doesn't appreciate my dedication." (I can't believe it--they got the promotion over me. What does God expect me to do--congratulate them and pray for them? See, I knew he or she didn't like me--I wasn't invited to…when will he or she reward me for a job well done? How much longer does this company expect me to work here without some reward?)
With your children: "I sure don't like that character trait--that seems permanent." (I knew he or she learned that from my spouse. Oh, that attitude or behavior has gotten worse. When is that child of mine going to straighten up? Why can't this child be more (or less) like me. Oh boy, their father taught them that, not me. When is that child of mine going to get it together?)
With your spouse: "Some things will never change, why didn't I "get that" 5 or 10 years ago?" (Why can't he or she get on the same game plan with me? What is wrong with him or her--there they go again--some things will just never change. Pray for my spouse? You don't live with him or her. I'm so weary of that habit he or she exhibits.)
CONVERSELY, everything GOOD that you think about others will naturally "balloon" in your mind and eventually sink into your heart.
"What a friend, I'm so blessed to have him or her in my life!"
"Even though the boss isn't my best friend, I'm thankful to have a job. He or she is a good person to work for/with."
"My child is brilliant and he or she is growing into greatness!"
"How thoughtful of my spouse to do that for me. Why he or she is the most thoughtful person I know. What a blessing to have him or her as my spouse."
In EVERY relationship and without fail, whatever you choose to think about that person or persons will inflate itself and "balloon" in your mind.
Many relationships have been needlessly destroyed by blown up thoughts that were let go in the mind, much like a filled air balloon zigzags through the air, when someone lets it loose.
As Christians we can be in control of our thoughts and we can hold thoughts that are pleasing to our great God. He gave us freedom of will to choose His thoughts that bring victory to our relationships.
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