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Finding Healing and Hope in 'Breathing Under Water' - A Journey with Jesus

Writer's picture: Tea DeakTea Deak

Upon reading my most recent blog post, a friend whom I hadn't been in contact with for a while reached out to me, expressing concern for my well-being and offering assistance.


Everything was fine, and it was wonderful to reconnect. She told me about her spiritual journey with Christ since our last meeting (around 15 years ago). Much of what she shared revolved around coping with traumatic experiences from her childhood. One particular story she shared deeply moved me, and she described how, on her path to healing, she realized her past desire to become a dog breeder.


Despite having a career, she felt a strong emotional desire to breed dogs and participate in exhibitions in her spare time. Dogs played a significant role in her life, residing in her home and being considered part of her family. However, after confronting a traumatic event from her childhood and addressing suppressed emotions, certain changes took place.


As a young child, she used to seek safety and comfort by crawling into the dog's house when feeling afraid. Dogs, especially German shepherds, were a source of love and comfort for her since childhood. Once she realized that her broken heart sought solace in dogs, the need for this type of comfort disappeared. Even though she still adores dogs and keeps them, the desire to become a dog breeder vanished as healing took place. My friend comprehended the reasons behind her drive to showcase dogs at exhibitions, and once the painful drive dissipated, there was no longer a reason to continue an activity that had lost its purpose.


Being on the same healing journey, but in different ways, we shared our hearts. As the conversation was coming to an end, we decided to pray together. It was a contemplative prayer (contemplating a Bible verse from Revelation 3:20) and we delved into “deep waters” together. It opened up some past, painful memories and we both had a special, intimate moment with Jesus. Our souls were fed. We both had a creative flow as a result of delving into painful memories with Jesus, and some stuck moments in life received needed solutions. 


When it comes to creative flow, my friend excels at singing songs, while I found inspiration to write a poem this time.


The poem extends an invitation to accompany us on our journey of healing with Jesus:


“Breathing under water”

Rain stopped falling.

The sea level rose.

I look at the water,

And I know what to do. 


I step on the water.

I decided to walk in faith. 

My friends warned me: 

"Don't go there, you will drown in memories of pain."


I don't think twice.

I take the first step. 

Every new step gets easier,

As I continue to walk in faith. 


Suddenly I lose touch with firm ground,

And I drown in panic, crying out loud.

I am overwhelmed,

While marinating in seasons past.


Friends watch me struggle to catch my breath.

I don't even know how to swim in the deep end.

As I struggle, I learn to breathe underwater.

And I find a firm ground. 


I walk back to the shore,

Knowing that I can struggle my way out. 

Perhaps I don’t know how to swim,

But I can walk on the seabed at any time. 


One step and one breath at a time, 

I walk out of the water and join my friends. 

We walk away together,

Enjoying a beautiful, sunny day. 


I needed to struggle to face the challenge.

Would you not do the same?

Come on, you too can do it!

No reason to be afraid.


© 2024 Tea Deak. All rights reserved.



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