The First and the Last

How often do we think about our breath? I learned early on that breathing is an involuntary act. We don't think about it. We don't consciously breathe in and then remind ourselves to breathe out.

But what about our "breath?" We brush our teeth to avoid bad breath. During cold winters we can "see" our breath. Smudge marks on the lenses of our glasses sometimes get a does of our humid breath. When we get scared we lose our breath.

Breath...

I talked with two people yesterday... one whose spouse recently died and another person whose father is about to die.

I asked the recent widower if he was there for his wife's "last breath." He said that he was. I made the comment, "That has to be one of the highest honors and privileges to be with someone you love so much for their last breath." With tear filled eyes he simply nodded in agreement.

Another friend of mine is standing by the bedside of her father as his journey is coming to a peaceful close. I made the observation, "He saw your first breath and now you get to see his last." Her choked up response on the phone was one of agreement as well.

My iWitness...

It's rare for someone to see our first breath and our last breath. Perhaps that is why the death of a child is one of the cruelest realities in life. "We're not supposed to bury our children" is one of life's maxims. But some of us do. Some of us pay witness to the great joy of the first breath and watch with great sadness the last breath of our sons and daughters.

Mary had that tragic experience.

In the stable, surrounded by the cows, pigs, horses, donkey, goats, sheep, three wise men, Joseph, chickens and every other farm animal we can think of to complete our fantasy Nativity scene, Mary witnessed the first breath on earth by the Savior of the world. That first breath was so full of promise, potential and prophecy.

At the cross... there Mary stood, looking up into the darkened skies with the Light of the World's radiance dimming by the minute. He gave a shout of, "It is finished!" and with that Jesus breathed his last. I'm not sure Mary considered it a real privilege on that day to have experienced the first and the last breath of her son, the savior.

And yet, for God, He considers it one of life's greatest honors, privileges and pleasures... To be with us always, to the end of the age, to be the Alpha and the Omega, the A to the Z of our fragile lives here on earth.

One of my favorite quotes goes like this... "Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

However many breaths we take and however many moments we experience that take our breath away, be sure of this... God will be with us for every breath... especially the first and the last...

"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28. 20)

And that's my iWitness
Laugh often and Fear not!
David!