The Balloon Incident

So the other day I took Jay with me to pick up a pizza. The pizza place was giving away balloons which delighted Jay. As we were getting back into our vehicle the balloon somehow came loose from Jay's wrist and it floated away. Jay was distraught, angry and comfortless. He cried [insert loud adverb here] all the way home.

As I was driving home with the noise, I pondered what had happened.

We were happy before we went into the pizza place.
We weren't expecting a balloon.
The balloon was free

Yet, when that free, unexpected gift was lost, Jay became distraught.

I began to think of all of the free gifts I have received in life - and how distraught I get when one is lost, broken, temporarily unavailable, or taken away. Perhaps there is a key there for me - to recognize free gifts. I should take care of them while they are in my possession, but I shouldn't let the loss of a free gift make me unhappy.