During lambing season, my husband Will helped with “pulling” a lamb. At last he freed a near-lifeless lamb and began sticking straw up its nose. The lamb snorted with disgust and irritation but would not breathe on its own. Will then picked it up and swung it in a circle around his body. Afterwards, he pushed the lamb’s chest to see if it would start breathing, but nothing worked. Finally Will opened the lamb’s mouth and breathed into it. Not once but twice, he exhaled as the lamb drank in life. Slowly the lamb began to breathe on its own.
I’m never bored with life on the farm and the miracle of birth. There is always another lesson to learn. Today it was about our Good Shepherd, the one who literally breathes life into our very souls. And it reminded me about the need to breathe out whatever is troubling us and to breathe in God.
My good friend Jannine prays aloud to herself, “Breathe out Jannine, Breathe in God, Breathe out Jannine, Breathe in God” so often that when our mutual friend Jodie was needing a moment of spiritual refreshment, Jodie found herself saying, “Breathe out Jannine, Breathe in God! Breathe out Jannine…” Oops! Whoever you need to breathe out today, be sure to breathe in God!
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
About Ann Stewart
Ann just won the Christy Award for Best Debut Novel of 2017 with Stars in the Grass, originated AMG’s Preparing My Heart series, and writes “Ann’s Lovin’ Ewe” for The Country Register. When she's not writing, she's waving her arms directing musicals, teaching middle schoolers, or watching UVA Basketball, This is Us, or Madam Secretary. In her free time she hangs out with her husband, raising two lovely daughters and a whole flock of fuzzy sheep on Skye Moor Farm, in Virginia--where unscripted drama provides plenty of entertaining material.
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