What Makes My Kids Cry Today

Two of my boys went to a classmate’s birthday party.

They came home smiling, laughing… and holding balloons.

The second they walked through the door, one of their brothers saw the balloons…

…and immediately burst into tears.

Not because he hates balloons.

Not because anything was wrong.

But because they got something… and he didn’t.

It wasn’t his birthday.

He didn’t go to the party.

The balloons weren’t meant for him…

But in his mind, all he could think was:

“It’s not fair. Why didn’t I get one too?”

And in that moment, I realized something:

We do the same thing with God.

We Might Not Cry Over Balloons… But We Cry Over Blessings

As adults, we don’t throw tantrums on the floor (well… most days).

But our hearts still feel it when someone else gets something we’ve been praying for.

We see someone else get:

A relationship A promotion A house A breakthrough A baby A ministry opportunity

And something inside quietly whispers:

“God… what about ME?”

Comparison doesn’t just live in kids.

It lives in us too.

My Own “Balloon Moment” — The Pregnancy Story

Right after I got married, someone I knew got pregnant immediately.

She shared her news, celebrated, posted pictures… and I was genuinely happy for her.

But deep down, it stung.

Because I thought it would happen quickly for us too.

Month after month went by… nothing.

And my happy face started to hide a hurting heart.

I remember thinking:

“God, why not me?”

“Did You forget me?”

“Am I doing something wrong?”

Every pregnancy announcement felt like another balloon I didn’t get.

It took 3 years before it was my turn.

Three years before I saw those two pink lines.

Three years before I held that baby in my arms.

Three years before I could look back and say:

God’s timing wasn’t punishment. It was preparation.

Someone else got blessed first… but I wasn’t forgotten.

It just wasn’t my “birthday” yet.

Their Blessing Does Not Cancel Yours

We act like there’s a limited supply of balloons—as if God can only give out a few blessings and then He’s fresh out.

But that’s not who He is.

God doesn’t run out.

God doesn’t forget.

God doesn’t skip over you.

Someone else’s blessing isn’t a threat to you.

Someone else’s celebration isn’t your rejection.

It might just not be your season… yet.

The Prodigal Son’s Older Brother — A Grown-Up Balloon Story

In Luke 15, when the prodigal son came home, the father threw a big party.

But the older brother?

He got angry.

He basically said, “You never did that for ME!”

He couldn’t celebrate… because he was comparing.

And the father said something so powerful:

“My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.”

WOW.

While he was focused on someone else’s balloon…

He forgot he already had access to the whole house.

Comparison Blinds Us to What We Already Have

When we fixate on what others receive…

we miss what God is already doing in our own lives.

Comparison kills gratitude.

Gratitude kills comparison.

It Might Not Be Your “Birthday” Yet

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says,

“To everything there is a season…”

Not every season is harvest.

Not every season is celebration.

Some seasons are waiting, preparing, growing, pruning.

Just because it isn’t your turn yet doesn’t mean it never will be.

Birthdays come at different times.

Blessings come in different seasons.

Your name is still on the calendar.

What If God Is Still Preparing Your Balloon?

Think about it…

Balloons take time to be filled.

If you give it too early, it deflates.

If you rush it, it pops.

Some blessings take time.

What if God is still:

Preparing your heart Setting up the right timing Building the right circumstances Protecting you from something Saving the BEST for later?

What if the wait isn’t a delay…

It’s divine preparation.

When Someone Else Gets the Balloon…

Here’s what I’ve learned (and am still learning):

Celebrate them. Don’t compare. Don’t panic. Don’t assume God forgot you.

Their turn does not cancel yours.

God is big enough to bless them…

and bless you.

Your Season Is Coming

If you’ve felt left out or overlooked—hear me:

You are not behind.

You are not forgotten.

God knows your heart.

Your “birthday” is still on the calendar.

And when it’s your turn…

No one will be able to stop it.

Prayer

God, thank You that You see me.

Help me not to compare my life to others.

Remind me that Your timing is perfect.

Give me peace while I wait.

Help me celebrate others without feeling left out.

And thank You that my season is coming.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Final Encouragement

So next time someone else gets the balloon…

Don’t let comparison steal your joy.

Don’t let waiting steal your hope.

Trust the One who knows your birthday.

Your time is coming.

Your blessing is coming.

Your “balloon” is coming. 🎈💛

Change isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s a slow shift—a new schedule, a new responsibility, a different rhythm of life. And if we’re honest, change can be hard… especially when the previous season felt good, familiar, or comfortable.

For years, homeschooling was our normal. It was our routine, our structure, our way of doing life as a family. I poured my time and energy into teaching my kids at home, and it became part of my identity as a mom.

But then life shifted.

My husband started a new job. We moved. After a school year in our new space, we realized something—our season had changed. And as much as I wanted to hold onto what we’d always done, God was gently leading us somewhere new.

We made the decision to enroll our kids in a wonderful Christian school connected to our church. At first, it felt strange. Different. A little scary. Would they adjust? Would I feel guilty? Would this new season be as good as the last?

But God was already ahead of us.

Not long after, I was offered a part-time job at church—something I never could have managed if we were still homeschooling full-time. The more I settled into this new role, the more I realized…

This change was a blessing in disguise.

A blessing I didn’t even know I needed.

🌿 Sometimes “different” is actually “divine.”

We often think staying the same equals stability. But sometimes obedience looks like stepping into something new—even when it feels uncomfortable.

God sees what we don’t.

He knows what’s coming.

He prepares the path before we even realize one is changing.

Maybe you’ve felt this too:

Your routine changed. Your job shifted. Your kids’ needs are different. Your schedule isn’t what it used to be. Life looks nothing like last year.

And maybe part of you wonders…

“Is it okay that things changed?”

Let me reassure you: Yes. It’s okay.

📖 Biblical encouragement

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV) says,

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

God is the author of seasons—both in nature and in our lives.

If He allows one season to end, it’s because He has purpose in the one that’s beginning.

💛 Let this sink in:

✅ Changing seasons doesn’t mean you failed.

✅ Needing something different doesn’t make you weak.

✅ Letting go of what was can open the door to what will be.

✅ You can love a previous season and still embrace a new one.

Sometimes the greatest growth, healing, and joy happen when we release our grip on the past and trust God with the future.

🌸 You are allowed to grow.

Your role may look different.

Your days may be structured differently.

Your calling may even evolve.

And that’s okay.

Because every season—homeschooling, working, ministry, parenting, transition—is held in the hands of the same faithful God.

If He led you here, there is purpose here.

🙏 Final encouragement

If you’re in a new season and it feels unfamiliar, take heart. You are not behind. You are not missing out. You are exactly where God wants you, and He wastes nothing.

It’s okay that your season has changed.

God is still writing your story—beautifully, intentionally, and with purpose.