While I Breathe, I Hope

Caroline Camden Lewis.  While I Breath, I Hope.  Acrylic on canvas.  30″ x 60.″  (2016).   $ 720–SOLD

In the first century B.C., Roman orator and statesman, Marcus Tullius Cicero wrote these immortal words, dum spiro sparo, which means, “While I breathe, I hope.”  Exiled from his home and family due to a political change of power, Cicero penned these words to his dear friend, Atticus with whom he corresponded during the year of exile.

Over the centuries it has become the motto of many family crests and now serves as the the motto of the state of South Carolina.  “While I Breathe, I Hope” means that God gives every breath as a gift and every breath serves as evidence of His continued purpose in one’s life.  Hope does not mean that life turns out as planned, but rather, that the One who guides our steps knows His purpose.  It means that the breaths we have—even the difficult and painful ones have a purpose in the Creator’s divine plan, a plan too lofty for the created to fully comprehend.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past finding out!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord?  Or who hath been His counsellor?  Or who hath first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things: to Whom be glory for ever.  Amen.

(Romans 11: 33-36 King James Version).