Breathe

How many of you have ever gotten the breath knocked out of you?

Maybe you were in a fight and got socked in the stomach, or maybe you jumped into a lake from a boat dock and landed the wrong way (that was the last time I did that, lol).

When you get the breath knocked out of you what actually happens is a diaphragm spasm. Our diaphragm is a large muscle that constricts when we breathe and helps us to pull air into our lungs, thus causing us to live. LOL

But when a diaphragm spasm happens, the diaphragm is literally paralyzed for a minute. All of the air in your lungs is emptied and your body feels intense pain for a few seconds. It's very scary at the time because you want to breathe but it seems like your body has forgotten how. You fight to draw air into your lungs, but you can't. The best thing you can do it relax and allow it to happen naturally, but at the time, when you are hurting, it can cause you to panic and try to find a way to breathe. I've been there and it's scary to say the least, especially when you're in the water and a couple of people have to drag you out and lay you on the dock. It feels like you'll never breathe again, but you do eventually.

This reminds me of life and how when you least expect it, out of the blue, something happens and the breath seems to be knocked out you. I don't mean in a literal sense, but when things take you by surprise, it can feel as though you can't breathe anymore, as if you're paralyzed.

It's happened to me more times than I care to remember and I'm sure that each of you can relate to the feeling as well.

I remember when my mom passed away unexpectedly. I was caught off guard and it felt as if my very breath was gone from my body. I can't explain every feeling I went through, but it was horrible. I literally couldn't draw air into my lungs for a few seconds and it hurt. I felt an ache in my chest that I'd never felt before and haven't since (and hope I never do again). I had to calm myself and tell myself to breathe. I had to wait a few minutes and try to relax so I wouldn't die myself. After I got over the initial shock of the news, and finally was able to breathe, I still wasn't okay. It took me a really long time to move past the pain. Don't misunderstand, I'll never get over it, there will always be hurt, but the pain does subside somewhat over time. I was finally able to get my breath back after what felt like my body was paralyzed for a while.

I'm reminded of another example that a friend experienced many years ago. He owned his own business and was doing really well. He trusted his accountant to take care of all things related to the financial end of it, because she was, after all, the accountant. One day while going about his business, working and living life, his wife opened a letter from the IRS. It stated that they owed many, many thousands of dollars in taxes that had to be paid. Upon reading the letter, my friend grabbed his chest and fell onto the floor. He thought he was having a heart attack. The breath had been knocked out of him, in a sense. It turned out his accountant wasn't on the up and up and had messed over several of her clients, leaving them all in dire straights with their taxes, while she fled with a lot of thier money.

My friend laid there on the floor, trying to figure out what happened and how to fix it. He was, in a sense, paralyzed by the devastating news. He was finally able to get up and carry on, making a deal with the IRS and was able to get his breath back after life had sent him a horrible blow, leaving him in shock.

There are many ways in life that we feel the breath has been knocked out of us. It may be a death, like in my case, or a sudden financial strain like in my friend's case. You may have suddenly suffered the loss of a job that you need to take care of your family or may have lost your home. Maybe your spouse told you that he/she doesn't love you anymore and they are leaving. All of those things can knock the breath from you, leaving you paralyzed on the floor. Each one can cause you to feel as if you'll never breathe again as if your lungs will never take in the air you need to live.

But you will, eventually.

I know because I have gone through EACH one of the things listed above. I've lost a job, a loved one, a home, and I've been told by my spouse that he didn't love me or want me anymore, as well as suffering the sudden financial crisis that can leave you stunned. I'm no different than any of you. If I've gone through these things, I know you have as well. Life has a way of bringing pain to us all. But I want you to know that with the help of God, you can overcome anything that's sent your way to hurt you.

When my mom died, I was in a tailspin. She was a nurse and had been living with grandfather (her dad) while he was dying of cancer. So when she suddenly passed from a heart cath gone wrong, that left my grandfather with only me to care for him. I knew nothing of how to take care of him, I didn't even know what meds to give him that was on the bathroom counter. It took me a couple of days to get it all lined out and then plan my mom's funeral and no sooner had we got her buried, my grandfather died a few days later. I will tell you that was one of the hardest times in my life. The ONLY thing that got me through the depression that latched onto me was reading Bible scriptures each day.

There's something powerful in the Word of God. My friend sent me 52 places in the Bible to read and I read every one of them and wrote them down. Over the next year and a half, I clung to them as if they were the only line I had between me dying and living. I can't tell you how much those scriptures meant to me. They got the breath back into my lungs and helped me live again.

No matter what you are going through, I know it's hard at the time, but get a Bible and read the scriptures. They will help you, I promise. There is something in there for every situation you face. There is a comfort to be found in the God's Word.

Although you don't feel like life will ever be the same again, and you won't ever breathe again, you will. It will take a while for you to take in air, but it will come. Trust God to help you. He's the only one who can.

I had someone ask me why my blogs have changed. "Why are you talking about God in them now?" they asked.

I smiled. I don't know. I really can't tell you an answer. I just sit down to write and whatever comes out, comes out. I know that when I first started blogging, they were all over the place. I was talking about my life and the good things that are happening, and then I was talking about someone I used to love. But something happened to me. Something changed and now I'm different. So I don't know why my writing has changed. I just know that whatever comes out as I type, is what is left on the screen for you to read. I hope you like them and I hope they help. It's my intention in life to inspire others and to help them, especially women. I love you all and I want to see you all succeed, no matter what you try.

I'm including a song that I love. Listen to the words. It's beautiful.

Remember to work hard and Dream Big!!

Much love,

Christy