Breath of Heaven

One of my favorite Christmas songs ever, in fact, it's probably in my top 3 is Breath of Heaven written by Amy Grant and sung by many but my favorite version is the one by Vince Gill, singing as Joseph. Here are the original lyrics:

I have traveled many moonless nights,
Cold and weary with a babe inside,
And I wonder what I've done.
Holy father you have come,
And chosen me now to carry your son.

I am waiting in a silent prayer.
I am frightened by the load I bear.
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now.
Be with me now.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.

Do you wonder as you watch my face,
If a wiser one should have had my place,
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan.
Help me be strong.
Help me be.
Help me.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.

Breath of heaven,
Hold me together,
Be forever near me,
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven,
Lighten my darkness,
Pour over me your holiness,
For you are holy.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.
Breath of heaven.

This song is one of the most REAL songs about the birth of the Savior. It is so personal, like reading a page out of Mary's Diary or listening to her pray! Mary did one of the hardest things in the whole history of the whole history. She was the Mother of the Son of God. I can't imagine what this young woman must have felt when she was told who she was and her role in history. I will say that Joseph is included, in theory, he could have walked away but he didn't! He was to be the Earthly Father of the Living Christ. I just think of the fear I feel in being a parent of my kids. I worry that everything I do or don't do will shape them into the adults they will be one day, the choices they may make and how they will feel about the Gospel and their relationship with their Father in Heaven. And here they are about to raise the Son of God! It puts everything into perspective! I think each and everyone of us has our moments of feeling inadequate or needing His Light because we are consumed in our personal darkness! We all have times of calling out for help or even a slight "Breath of Heaven". Every time I hear this song it makes me want to cry because on some level I can relate. I'm not saying I am of Mary's caliber-anyone who knows me well knows I am nowhere close! But I can feel her fear, her concern (or in Vince Gill's version, 'his') and her need for strength. It always reminds me where I need to go to get that strength when I am looking in all the wrong places. It doesn't matter if your concerned about being the Mother of our Savior, single and maybe lonely, struggling to do what's right, fighting to get out of bed each day, or just a mediocre mother. We can all call on God for that simple "Breath of Heaven" to carry us through and "lighten our darkness".