My Christmas Prayer of Gratitude

Summary

John C. Davis expresses profound gratitude for the gift of breath, acknowledging its role in life's joys and the humbling reminder of its fragility during the Christmas season of 2021.

Abstract

On Christmas Eve 2021, John C. Davis reflects on the significance of breath as a fundamental aspect of life. He emphasizes the importance of appreciating the ability to breathe, recognizing it as a gift that sustains life, enables human expression, and connects us to the natural world. Davis's gratitude is deepened by the loss of a friend to Covid, which underscores the preciousness of each breath. He encourages readers to join him in a prayer of thanksgiving for their lungs, the trees that purify the air, the body's complex systems that facilitate breathing, and the brain's role in orchestrating these vital functions. While acknowledging the many blessings of the season, including love, friendship, and the gifts under the tree, Davis chooses to focus on the simple yet profound gift of breath as the foundation of all life's experiences.

Opinions

Davis views the act of breathing as a miraculous and undeserved gift, deserving of gratitude.
He believes that the ability to breathe is often taken for granted, despite its essential role in daily activities and expressions of life.
The author's perspective on breathing is shaped by personal loss due to Covid, which has heightened his appreciation for each breath.
Davis holds the natural world, particularly trees, in high regard for their role in providing clean air.
He expresses a sense of humility in the face of the complex biological processes that enable breathing.
The essay conveys a deep sense of gratitude towards the Creator for the gift of life and breath.
Davis encourages a mindful acknowledgment of the interconnectedness of life, from the individual's health to the planet's ecosystems.

All that is within me praise the glorious gift of my breath

It’s Christmas Eve 2021.

It’s a time of celebration and remembrance.

To truly embrace the spirit of Christmas, I want to remember what a gift it is to be able to breathe.

As I expand my lungs once again and inhale the beautiful clean air, I recognize the powerful and magnificent workings of my brain to bring this to me.

I also recognize that the air I breathe is a gift. An amazing gift. I am not in control of the atmosphere, the planet, the trees that give it to me, or how long it will be with me.

This is humbling. And it gives me a great sense of gratitude.

I lost a friend to Covid in August. I know how important breathing is.

This breath that is within me is the very breath I use to form a smile, play music, hug my wife, teach my students, and write my next line.

The breath within me allows me to eat my next meal, think my next thought, and praise my loving Creator.

Never do I once want to take for granted the gift of breathing. It is a profound and wonderful gift.

There are many on our planet who are struggling to take a breath right now and would give anything to have another one.

My simple prayer is that you say thank you to your lungs this Christmas. Say thank you to the trees that gave you this air. Say thank you to the incredibly complex web of tunnels and channels that transport your blood and get the needed oxygen from the air you breathe. Say thank you to your brain that figures all of this out.

There are many things to be grateful for this Christmas. The gift of love and friendship are of course chief among them. I’m grateful for my home and for the love of my wife. I’m grateful for the gifts under the tree. I’m grateful for the love of my Creator.

But I want to keep it simple this year. Really simple.

I’m grateful that I have the breath to be able to do all the wonderful things that life has to offer.

My prayer is that when you take your next breath, consider what a blessing it is that you took it.

Merry Christmas!