A Breath Prayer

Olive, my soon-to-be eight-year-old daughter, had been practicing to read the scriptures at the small church near our home. She eagerly volunteered, and naturally, she was assigned one of those passages filled with difficult names and places. 

She was practicing and pushing through until, early in the week, her breathing weakened. Soon we were in the hospital dealing with a new asthma diagnosis. After three days, her voice was raspy and tired.   

“Olive, are you sure you want to read the scripture on Sunday? You don’t have to.”  

Buoyed by her love for God, and likely a desire for anything to feel normal, she said “Absolutely. Let me practice again.” And she did.  

The lectern at the church was too big for her so they set a chair for her to stand on and to prop herself up. When the time came, Olive, in her purple flower dress, climbed into the chair and stood. “Our First Lesson …”  

As she read, the fear I had been holding in that week loosened its grip. And I felt the spirit whisper a verse into my heart: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6) 

Here was our tiny human who struggled with breath all week, using her tiny, raspy voice to do that very thing. Surrounded by the community who had been holding her in prayer, she stood among them, read the scriptures, and praised the Lord.  

After the service, she grinned and said, "There were so many names, Mom! I just skipped that one line.” 

Since that Sunday, I have found myself returning again and again to breath prayers. It feels fitting. A breath prayer is a simple practice of praying a few words as you inhale and exhale, often using a verse of scripture or a truth about God. It has slowed my breath, loosened the grip of fear, and tuned me to God’s presence in a way that Olive seems know already.  

Inhale: With every breath I take 

Exhale: I give you praise. 

Inhale: Let everything in me 

Exhale: Praise the Lord. 

Wherever you may find yourself today, I invite you to join Olive’s voice. Yours might feel just as exhausted, shaky, or overwhelmed. Or maybe it’s confident and sure. Today, whatever breath fills your lungs is enough. Let it become a prayer. Let it become a song. Let it become praise.