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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Exhale (08/15/13)
Exhale His Love

Have you ever sat beside a loved one who is close to death? Their breaths become shallow and the time between breaths become longer and longer. You find yourself taking breaths for them then suddenly they take a deep breath and for what seems like an eternity there is nothing. The silence in the room is deafening then suddenly they exhale and the cycle is repeated until they take their final breath.
No matter how many times I watch a loved one die I still find myself holding my breath waiting for their exhale. It is never easy but from personal experience I can truly say that the times I knew without a shadow of doubt that my loved one was a child of God I was at peace. Because I knew that as they took their last breath here on Earth their next breath would be pain-free, in Heaven, and with Jesus.
Yes, I still grieved and yes, I knew I would miss them but it is hard to be too sad when I think about the reunion they are having in heaven with all our loved ones and Jesus himself.
As Christians we owe it to our loved ones to make sure they know that when we take our last breath we will be in heaven. Yes, it is good to verbalize our belief to our family but more importantly we should show them. Remember the old saying, “Actions speak louder than words”?
So how do we show our loved ones we have accepted the Lord as our Savior? How do they know whether or not our final destination is Heaven? It is by the way we live our dash. Have you ever noticed the inscription on a tombstone? Along with the deceased’s name it usually gives the dates of their birth and death. Separating the two dates is a dash. That dash represents the days, months, and years spent on Earth. It encompasses one’s deeds, attitudes, beliefs, and actions, in other words everything that was done during one’s time on Earth.
Think about your dash. When it comes your time and your loved one is watching you inhale and exhale will they have the peace of knowing that your last breath on Earth will be followed by your first breath in Heaven? Has your dash revealed your belief in Christ? If not, it is not too late. Take a deep breath breathing in Jesus and then slowly and gently exhale His love.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Jan Ackerson
08/22/13
A good devotional--I've not been present at the death of a loved one, but I believe you've captured that sense of suspension very well.

It appears that you had some words to spare--I wonder if this would have been even more effective if you'd opened with a narrative about your experience with an actual loved one, told like a story. It might have made your devotional even more relatable to your readers.

Also, if you manually add a space while your entry is in the 'submit' box, your entry will be easier on the eyes.

The message at the end was pitch-perfect. Well done.
C D Swanson 
08/22/13
This was a powerful devotional with a superb message...especially the ending.

Thank you. God bless~