Balloons

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. - Hosea 14:4

Jesus has given you a fist full of brightly colored balloons. He says each has great significance and tells you to hold them tightly so they won't get away. Now you're sitting on a park bench. Before long a shapely young lass in tight-fitting shorts sashays up and you -- being the red-blooded American male that you are -- find it impossible to keep your attention locked on the balloons. She smiles sweetly before she spreads a blanket on the grass in front of you and begins a brisk routine of physical exercises.

As you watch her stretching and bending, your grip on the balloons begins to relax. Ooops! One escaped, rising quickly into the sky. It was the one named "Self-Control." Now it's out of reach, but you really don't notice. And there goes another one. That one was called "Spiritual Discipline." But you still didn't notice. There goes "Blessings," but, again, you fail to notice. Your full attention is focused on the girl and her erotic gyrations. After all, she smiled at you, didn't she? Maybe she'll invite you up to her place for a drink and...

Oh, my! "Carnal Knowledge" just flew away, followed closely by "The Word Of God".

You glance back and notice all your balloons are gone but one -- "Repentance." Suddenly your grip becomes like a vise. You look at the girl and she smiles again. For a split second you consider allowing "Repentance" to escape as well but, then, you realize without that balloon, you lose all hope. Holding tightly to "Repentance" you stand up, turn your back, and run away.

"What's your rush, good-lookin'?" she coos.

But you no longer hear her as you clutch "Repentance" tightly in your hand and hurry back to Jesus. "Forgive me, Lord," you humbly confess as you drop to your knees in front of Him. Then you begin to weep as you tell Him how you lost all the balloons He gave you, and how sorry you are.

"You are forgiven, my child," Jesus replies gently as He hands you a new supply of balloons. "Just remember to keep a tight grip on these." Then He adds, "If you do not concentrate on keeping them with you they, too, will fly from your grasp before you know it."

Viewed 699 times

Ed Price spent 35 years in print and broadcast journalism. He is author of 15 books. After becoming an ordained minister he settled with his wife on a farm in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, to study God's word and to write. Ed and Patty are the parents of three girls, have one grandchild, and cater to the every whim of two spoiled cats.
© 2010 Ed Price - All rights reserved. Visit his website, The Loving Heart.

This column is used with permission.