Balloons for My Birthday

There’s a local pizza place in my neighborhood. It’s a one of a kind, and their wings are incredible. I love the people. They are a diverse and eclectic group, including faith, spirituality, or the lack thereof.

One time, a church friend and I were ordering—probably, too many wings—and I felt prompted to ask our server, who I knew fairly well at this point, what we could pray for her about. I knew she was going through a divorce and struggling with the transition of single parenting. But, she shrugged it off and sarcastically joked, “That God will remember me on my birthday.” I asked, “How would you know He did?” And, she replied chuckling, “He’ll give me some balloons.”

She didn’t take it seriously, but we did. We showed up a couple weeks later with balloons and a gift that surprised her on her birthday and moved her deeply. God remembered her through our remembrance of her. God answered her seemingly silly request through our heartfelt gift.

Psalm 136:23 says God remembered us when we were down and out, because His steadfast love endures forever.

That’s good news for us but also through us—even through a few balloons.