Take a deep breath in through your nose… hold for five seconds… now breathe out slowly

Did you stop before you performed that exercise?  Was it difficult?  Did you start coughing, wheezing or sneezing?  If not, be grateful!

I just spent the better part of the beginning of the new year battling a wicked bad case of bronchitis that came out of nowhere.  One Sunday morning I was feeling fine, and within a matter of hours I was coughing until my lungs ached, shaking like a leaf while sporting a high fever, and hurting so badly all over that every cell felt like a giant bruise!  Thankfully, now that I am on round two of antibiotics and days of bedrest, I am FINALLY feeling better, have some energy back in my system and am able to breathe without working hard not to cough.

Something so mindless, so simple… we do it constantly without even thinking about it.  In.  Out.  In.  Out.  Whether through out lips or noses, whether yawning, sighing or just a shallow spurt, we breathe.  Until a sinus infection, cold, allergy/asthma attack or an upper respiratory issue arises.  Then suddenly everything is different.  Labored.  Difficult.  Even life-threatening.  The very breathe of life that we mindlessly employ — about 12-20 times per minute, or around 17,000-30,000 breaths per day — or more!  Think about it. Then whisper a prayer of gratitude.

How many breaths do you think you took while reading this blog post?

Job 33:4  “The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”