Caregiving, whether for a child, an elderly parent, a special needs child, or for a spouse, is exhausting. My deceased wife and I cared for her mother until her mother died at the ripe old age of ninety-nine. I am sure that the last five years of caregiving for her mother sped up my wife’s passing. During the pressure and endless demands of caregiving, how does one find time to pray?
Finding time to pray can be an elusive luxury for caregivers. Here is a suggestion: breath prayer. What is breath prayer? Breath prayer is a short prayer of praise or request said with the in-flow and out flow of your breathing. Breath prayers can be offered silently as you care for your loved one.
How does one come up with a breath prayer?
• Listen, as God calls you by name, “(Your name) what do you want?”
• Answer God simply and directly telling God what you need.
• Breathe in, saying what ever name you use for God.
• Breathe out, telling God what you need,
Here are some examples of short breath prayers:
“God, give me strength.”
“Lord, give me patience.”
“Jesus, please carry me.”
“Lord, I love you.”
“Holy One, give me wisdom.”
“God, I love you.”
“Lord, thank you for loving me.”
Breath prayer is a simple way to stay connected to God during the demands of your caregiving days and nights. Compose your own breath prayers. Try praying them. Feel free to contact me for more help or to let me know what breath prayers you have composed. www.jimcyr.com
Bonus tip: Check out Pray-As-You- Go
and down load the app.
Pray-As-You-Go is a daily prayer session, designed to go with you wherever you go, to help you pray whenever you find time, but particularly whilst travelling to and from work, study, etc.
A new prayer session is produced every day of the working week and one session for the weekend. It is not a ‘Thought for the Day””, a sermon or a bible-study, but rather a framework for your own prayer.
Lasting between ten and thirteen minutes, it combines music, scripture and some questions for reflection.