Breath

Our family has been a “high maintainance” prayer family the last few years. I have shared with you the story of my husband’s illness and heart surgery, and today I would like to tell you about our grandson. JJ is an eighteen month old bundle of energy and mischief, which in itself is a miracle. You see he was born in February of 2008 at only 24 1/2 weeks gestation. He entered the world at a whopping 1 lb. 9 oz.

It had only been five months since his grandpa’s rare and dangerous surgery, and five weeks since the death of his great-grandma, my mom. We were feeling more than a bit overwhelmed with emotion. Once again we were asking friends and family to bombard the throne of grace for the life of a loved one.

Next week, our little mischief maker is going in for surgery. You see he spent the first four months of his life connected to a ventilator, and the tubes going down his throat resulted in scar tissue and swelling. Several times during his early months at home he was rushed to the hospital because he was unable to get enough air into his little lungs.

Early this year he had a tracheotomy, and next week they are going to enlarge his airway – the first step in enabling him to breathe through his nose and mouth. We are praying that he will be free of the tracheal tube by Christmas. We would be blessed if you would keep him in prayer.

Breathing has been JJ’s greatest challenge since birth. Breathing is essential for each of us. Let’s take a minute and look at a few things God’s Word has to say about breathing.

• The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
• Man is like a breath, his days are like a fleeting shadow. Psalm 144:4
• Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6
• Jesus called with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” When He had said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46
• Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:22
• All Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16

Breath – essential for life! We need it for our physical lives and our spiritual lives. Thanks be to God for His abundant love in providing all that we need now and eternally. Take a deep breath and thank Him for the air around you, and take in a deep breath of His Word and thank Him for His gifts of love and faith.