Practice The Pause

 Imagine you are in the middle of watching a movie or you're listening to a song or podcast and you're really into it. Then, all of a sudden, your phone rings, someone calls your name, you hear sounds or you have to get up for something. Maybe you were watching the video on YouTube and it stops because the Internet service has been interrupted. When that happens, there has been a pause. A pause happens when an action is interrupted briefly. We all have experienced a pause before whether it was in our control or not. Notice that a pause is not a permanent action. It will continue later. Whether that's one minute later or an hour later, it will begin again. Now, I will say that a pause can be frustrating or disappointing (especially if you were at a really good part of what you're watching!). It doesn't mean you won't ever get to see it, but now you have to wait. Videos aren't the only thing that have been put on pause before. Goals can be put on pause. There can be a pause in conversations. There can be moments in our day where we pause and be still. In looking at the examples above, we can all relate to at least one of them when we're thinking about the pause. I've learned that a pause is not necessarily bad and could be a good thing. It may not always be convenient, but we can learn in the pause. We can rest and regroup in the pause 😀. A pause is when something is still and absent of movement. I took a communication class in my undergraduate studies in college. In the class, we discussed the importance of having pauses in our conversation. We talked about how in our society we always feel like we need to fill the silence in conversation and not have the pause. However, we learned the pause is okay. Silence is okay👏. It allows those involved to think about what is being said and not rush what needs to be communicated. I try to remind myself of that when I'm having conversations even though I still get the urge to want to fill the silence. This happens especially when the conversation is getting really good and I want to jump in right away! We sometimes have to pause on our goals. I had to practice that pause when I was pursuing my Master's degree. I started working on it in September 2017. I was planning to complete it in 3 years by 2020. Notice I said "I." God had other plans. In 2019, I had to take a pause with going to school. I only had one more course to take and that was the student teaching credit. I was very close to finishing 💖! In the pause, I kept working at the school with my Reading students and learned all I could in my classroom experiences. I picked my goal back up in January 2021 and completed my Master's degree in Elementary Education in April 2021 😀! Yes, I had to take a pause, but I didn't quit. I didn't give up on my goal. Oh yes... I do need to mention that I took one class at a time! I want to stop right here and encourage those of you who are currently in school or college and it seems like it's taking you forever to finish. Keep going and taking those classes, even if you have to take one class at a time. You will reach your goal! Slow and steady wins the race- I am living proof 👏💖!! So let's practice the pause. In our conversations, let's have a few moments of silence. James 1:19 in the Bible tells us to be slow to speak. Allow for the pause before the next words are spoken. In the pause, we can make sure we are responding in the right way with the right attitude. Let's practice the pause in prayer so we can hear any instructions and Scriptures God needs to tell us and remind us of 🙏. If there is a goal you have had to pause on, keep going and do the best you can. It will come to pass. We can take a break from that project or task we've been doing to go outside, read our book, go to a spa or salon, or do something we enjoy. It's okay to pause from the action. Sometimes we should go back to it to the same day, while other times we should wait until another day. In each day itself, let's just sit in silence for a few moment. Let's not worry about the to-do list, what we have to do later or what we should be doing while we're sitting there. These are real thoughts and easier to say than do (trust me- I'm with you!), but let's keep working on that. Every day, let's practice the pause in our words and actions. Then, when we're ready, we can hit "Play!" and resume 😀. God bless 🙏💜!!