Breath of Heaven

What is the most troublesome about Mom’s illness, COPD,  is that it steals away the breath of her life. We depend upon breathing treatments and oxygen to get her days started off right.

Mom and Charlotte Mazzu sing a duet 1970

How precious is the breath of life. How precious is the One who breathes life into us. When Mom was younger she had a good voice. Good enough that she invited to sing at special meetings. But even if she had never sung publicly she would be no less a singer.

She knew many sacred tunes and to my childish delight she knew some big band songs such as 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' and 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart'. I was sure I had the coolest Mom of all when she would pop out from behind the drapes and perform songs and sometimes a dance from long ago.

As anyone can tell you, to sing properly you must control your breath. Her heart broke about eight years ago when she lost her voice after a bout with pneumonia. Although she cannot sing for long periods of times, she still carries a song in her heart, and on occasion I can prompt her to join me in a short chorus or two.

Music is a very important part of this household. Sometimes we do the singing and at other times we play DVD’s or CD’s and within minutes we can see the soothing effect that the music has on the environment, especially when we play the familiar old hymns. Every Saturday Mom and Dad let their hair down and watch Lawrence Welk on PBS  (I think I’ve seen most of the shows.) Saturday nights from 6 to 8:30 has long been Mom and Dad’s date night and now Wolter and I are their chaperones.

This lyrics of this song resonates in my heart as I sing and pray it for Mom. Even now as she sits near me, I hear the oxygen machine gurgling and hissing, and I hear the words of the parts of this song.

I am waiting in a silent prayer

I am frightened by the load I bear

In a world as cold as stone

Must I walk this path alone?

Be with me now

Be with me now

                                                            Breath of heaven

                                                            Hold me together

                                                            Be forever near me

                                                            Breath of heaven

                                                            Breath of heaven

                                                            Lighten my darkness

                                                            Pour over me your holiness
                                                            For you are holy
                                                            Breath of Heaven.