There is something quite powerful about taking a deep breath.

We breathe in and out, every moment, of every day.  The average person takes about 28,800 breaths per day!  And we do it without a thought about what we are doing or how absolutely necessary it is to our survival.

In and out.

Not really noticing how much our body needs that oxygen to keep us alive. It is taken for granted. So much so that we can forget about taking deep, slow, full breaths.

In and out.

When my children come to me after a fall or a hurt, they are sometimes a little worked up.  Tears, noise and often gasping for a breath, while they try and tell the story of their drama.  My first response is to get them to STOP… and take some deep breaths.

And as they do, I watch as it begins to change their expression, the tension starts to fade and they begin to calm down.

Sometimes God whispers to me… just breathe.

In and out.

I can have a thousand things playing through my mind. I can be trying to deal with a hurt or manage some emotions about an issue in my world.  Or simply grapple with questions, injustices or unknowns.

But when I sit alone with God… the first thing I hear is… STOP and Breathe.

And as I do, it creates a space.

I close my eyes

Clear my heart

and let go.

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