” Practice the Pause

-When in doubt, pause

-When angry, pause

-When tired, pause

-When stressed, pause

And whenever you pause pray”

I’m not sure who said that but I found it on Pinterest a while ago and thought how true. When we pause for even a second we think clearer, mistakes are less and hurt does not run rampant like a wild fire.

Little did I know how often I would think of it but I think and tell myself this daily. I have always been one to keep going until I finished a task. I didn’t need deadlines I gave them to myself. I always wanted to finish and brake some kind of record I would set for myself.

I enjoy “stopping to smell the roses” I even have proof.

Yes this is a very young me. The picture is old and worn but speaks volumes. As much as I love to stop and do this or to sit on a nice bench to take in this beautiful world I also become a dog with a bone when I have a task to do.

This started when I was a baby ( sorry mom )and continued until a short time ago when I was given no choice but to take a pause.

My body reminded me it is time to learn the beauty of the pause, for years I confused pause with stop but instead, if used as a noun it is only “a temporary stop in action” Yes this was a light bulb moment. I am choosing to have pause as a noun in my life. I am learning that there is such wonder and sweet moments in the pause. That I am not only physically healing but old emotional hurts are allowed to heal in the pause. Just as I love to stop and enjoy the pause when seeing others or to pause and appreciate this world. I am just as special to stop and pause for myself.

I know that embracing the practice of the of pause I must continue to do so for the rest of my life or I won’t have one. I must let my body heal and to continue to keep up with my practice of the pause in order to stay healthy.

I find it so amazing that if we don’t stop to acknowledge the things in our life we need to work on then things happen to give us a chance to learn and do better.

Lamentations 3:24-26 (ESV)
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.