Two Minutes That Changed a Balloon-Seller Father’s Sorrow

Medan, North Sumatra – (09/02/26) A faint smile was etched on the face of a middle-aged father sitting thoughtfully on his modest bicycle. That morning, a friendly greeting from Jestham interrupted his reverie. "Good morning, Sir. What are you up to?" asked Jestham. "Selling," the man replied briefly, showing a few balloons he had for sale. Jestham then offered a surprise: "Sir, I have some blessings from God. How about shopping as much as you can inside for two minutes? Would you like that?" The man’s gaze immediately lit up, though a trace of doubt remained, before turning into enthusiasm.

When asked what his most essential need was, he spontaneously answered, "Rice." Jestham probed further and learned that his rice supply at home was only about two kilograms. After hearing his concern, Jestham invited him into the minimarket and gave a simple yet meaningful instruction: "Sir, shop as much as you want, okay? Don’t be sad anymore." The man nodded, but Jestham was still curious about the sadness she had seen on his face earlier. "Earlier you were sitting and daydreaming out front; why was that, Sir?" she asked gently. "For the children’s school needs. For household needs," the man answered softly, illustrating the burdens he carried alone.

After encouraging him, the two-minute challenge began. With the countdown, the man sprang into action. "Get lots of rice, lots!" Jestham shouted, guiding him. His priorities were clear; repeatedly, he grabbed bags of rice and placed them into the shopping cart. "Eggs, eggs, eggs!" Jestham shouted again, and the man promptly took several trays of eggs. The initially somber atmosphere turned lively, seeing a family head working hard to utilize every second to provide for his family’s basic needs.

Conversation flowed again, revealing an old, lingering wound. This father, who sold balloons daily with an unpredictable income, had lost his 23-year-old daughter in 2019 due to a lung condition that began with gastric acid issues. This grief added to the heavy burden on his mind as a father. When asked about the difficulties of being a father, he only advised, with tearful eyes, "Remember your parents. Don’t be far from your parents. That’s my only message. Pray for your parents."

When the two minutes were up, the shopping cart was full of staple goods, especially rice and eggs. Jestham then invited the man to head home early, carrying this joyful blessing. "Okay, Sir, we’ll pay for this. Hopefully, it helps with your household needs and everything. I hope this helps you, Sir," Jestham said sincerely while giving the man an additional blessing. The man accepted with deep gratitude, "Thank you so much, Ms. Jestham. May your sustenance be easy. Always be successful."

This simple, meaningful moment serves as a reminder that amidst the hardships of life and a father’s struggle, there is still room for kindness and empathy. Help does not always have to come in the form of large material gifts; presence and genuine care matter just as much. This balloon-seller father’s story is a real portrait of the relentless struggle of the grassroots and of Jestham’s kind heart that chose to be the answer to his small prayers.