A Balloon for Titus

Bible Reading: Romans 8:26–28

“Can we get balloons, Mom?” Julian asked on the way into the hardware store. It was the store’s grand opening, and a man was blowing up helium balloons at the front of the store and giving them to the kids.

“Sure,” said Mom. “Why don’t you take Titus over there while I look at these flowers?”

Julian took the stroller from his mom and pushed his two-year old brother to the man with the balloons. “Can my brother and I have balloons, please?” he asked.

“Sure thing,” said the man. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Blue,” Julian answered without hesitation.

The man filled a blue balloon and handed it to Julian. “And what color would you like, young man?” he asked Titus.

“Wahyo boon!” shouted Titus, bouncing up and down in his seat.

“Well, I hope this won’t go ‘boom’ for you too quickly,” said the man as he selected a green balloon and handed it to Titus.

Titus pulled back. “No! Wahyo boon,” he insisted. “Wan wahyo boon!”

Julian laughed at the man’s puzzled look. “He says he wants a yellow balloon,” he explained.

Grinning, the man filled a yellow balloon. “I hope you appreciate your brother, little guy,” he said as he handed it to Titus. “He does a good job of interpreting for you.”

When Julian wheeled Titus back to Mom, he proudly showed her his yellow balloon, and Julian explained how he got it. Mom grinned and ruffled Titus’s hair. “It’s a good thing your brother can understand you,” she said.

Titus played with his balloon as they walked through the aisles of the store. “You know,” Mom said, “I was just thinking that we’re all a little like Titus.” She smiled when Julian looked at her curiously. “He needed help in speaking, and you were able to help him. All Christians need that kind of help sometimes when we pray. We don’t always know what to say or even what to ask God for, but Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit to help us. He makes our requests clear and right before God.”

“I’m thankful for that,” Julian said, playfully batting his blue balloon at Titus’s yellow one. “It encourages me to keep praying!” •Hazel W. Marett

How About You?

Do you feel like you don’t know how to pray? Is it hard for you to tell God what you need or how you feel? When you have trouble finding the right words, the Holy Spirit takes your prayers and make them just right. So don’t worry when you find it difficult to pray—God hears your prayers and will give you exactly what you need.

Today’s Key Verse:
Romans 8:26 We don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit himself speaks to God for us. (ERV)

Today’s Key Thought:

The Holy Spirit helps you pray