"Bursting the Balloon" - Strange title, don't you think. Is this blog going to deal with a carnival game where you throw darts to pop the balloons and then win a prize for the number you burst? Hmmmm, that would be a fun thing for some people to do! But no, it is not going to be about the game, rather it is about feelings.
God tells us in the Bible:
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32
But I have seen so many times how people think it is okay to say what ever comes to their mind regardless of how it may sound and who may be hurt from their words. Bill and I saw this many times when dealing with kids!!! Of course we know how those early teen years are and how insecure many of them are at this stage of their life. Sadly, some of those who could care less what they say continue doing so as adults.
Many of us have been around co-workers, friends, and even family who are negative and seem to resent the fact that others may be happy and content with their life. I have been around those who appear to resent any addition others have made to their life.
It reminds me of the time I was questioned as a new college graduate about how it was that I could be a college graduate coming from a family on the poorer side of the tracks! The person who questioned me was trying to make me feel I was not worthy of being a college graduate. Now talk about having your balloon burst, mine was deflated quickly until Mom and Dad had a heart to heart talk with me!! I was worthy, and they were proud of what I had accomplished!
There was another time when the county decided to give a proficiency test to all 8th graders in Math and Language Arts. The 8th graders from East Lynn scored higher in Language Arts than any other 8th grade class in the county. Apparently this did not set well with some of the teachers in some of the other middle schools. I was asked to speak to the Language Arts teachers at the beginning of the next school year as to what I did to prepare my students for success. I was honored and humbled at the request. However, I was soon to realize that there was at least one in the county who was questioning how those kids from East Lynn could score so high, and "she" wanted to know just who this teacher was that was to speak to them!!! Unbeknownst to her, I was sitting beside her when she was ranting and questioning how it was a teacher from East Lynn was the one to tell her how to teach Language Arts!!! She sure deflated my balloons! I was already a nervous wreck for having to speak before my peers, but to know there were some who resented me without even knowing who I was . . . now that hurt. I had worked hard with those students as I always had, and they just happened to be a group that caught on to the skills and was able to answer the questions correctly! The lady never apologized. She just huffed and was rude each time we had to come together as a group. All I was guilty of was doing my job the best way I knew how, but I sure felt like I had done something wrong!
I have heard many say they were just telling the truth and being honest with the other person. I don't have a problem with anyone telling the truth or being honest. That is what we are suppose to do. But where do we draw the line? I have seen some who love to burst the balloon of anyone who was having a great moment, day, or life! They were miserable, therefore, everyone else needed to be miserable too. "Misery loves company," so goes the saying I have heard all my life!!!! Many times they may not even realize they have hurt some one's feelings, and then some of us wear our feelings on our sleeves! :(
I've read many post lately where friends and family have been really happy and upbeat, to have something happen to cause them to be be down on their next posting. From what I have read, most of their being down is due to something someone said - or at least the tone of what they said that apparently burst their balloon.
Let's all try to remember:
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Colossians 3:17
My prayers are that your life is going well, and that God will always be by your side as you travel down life's road. May no one burst your balloons!
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