The words pause and fall come together like a sing-a-long.
They swing and sway to the melody of a season that offers natural pauses to our day. Swift breezes encourage us to bundle up and head outside for a walk, or a sit by the fire. Wild muscadines growing nearby release a fragrance so sweet and so strong, it takes root in our memories as tightly as its vine clings to an overhanging tree.
And then there is the mug⏤you know, the favorite one that fits your hand just right and makes you smile every time you pull it from the cabinet. It’s the one that warms the quickest when holding your favorite pumpkiny latte.
Fall offers unique opportunities to slow down, to intentionally engage with God, with others, and with our surroundings. It’s comforting to pause from our chaotic culture. And it refreshes the soul we when we offer another person the same opportunity.
“…those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25 NLT
1.
Offer soul refreshment to a parent by watching her children for a couple of hours. If there has ever been a year parents need a pause, it’s this one. Virtual learning, various school schedules, layoffs, etc. If you’re on a tight schedule, there’s nothing wrong with specifying a time, like 10 am-noon.
Bonus points:
- Stay during a lunch or dinner hour so she can enjoy lunch or a quiet time at a park or in a quiet corner of Panera. Nothing revives a weary soul like fresh air and coffee.
- Before she leaves, quietly hand her a coffee gift card to enjoy while she’s away.
- Offer to help the children with homework.
2.
Offer a cooked or carry-out meal to a teacher, depending on how well you know her. One less meal to cook creates a bless-her-socks-off crevice of time in her schedule she’ll not soon forget. Goodbye, busy grocery store, preparation, and clean-up time. Hello, pause. A few favorite go-to sites for quick and easy meals include:
Have more money than time? Write a card that includes a restaurant gift card or a delivery service like GrubHub.
3.
Invite a new neighbor over for a cup of tea outdoors. Low humidity, no mosquitoes, and just enough chill in the air to appreciate a warm mug or teacup, all make for a welcoming time outdoors. Keep it simple or fancy it up. If you choose simple, Poetry Teatime offers easy treats for tea.
4.
Heading to the apple orchard this fall? Grab an extra bag for someone you know who especially needs to be reminded of God’s love. Or divvy up the bag and create smaller, separate bags for a few people. Apples are yummy but it’s the message that matters here. You can add this tag, based on Psalm 17:8, to the bag.
Every month, subscribers receive a holy, sensory-based pause to use in a particular setting. Like, the garden, or during a storm, or by the lake. It’s quickly becoming one of the most enjoyable downloads in their monthly letter.
Today, I offer you this “Fall Pause” as a “thank you” for becoming a subscriber. We’re a community that understands and appreciates the power of a pause⏤an intentional step toward moving closer to God as we choose to set the life we’ve created aside, and welcome the presence of our Creator.
Simply enter your email address in the top right sidebar. That’s it! {And of course, you can unsubscribe at any time.}
Thank you for stopping by Creative Pauses from The Tiny House on the Hill!
Bi-weekly posts invite you to come in from the craziness of life, take a seat, and pause awhile, allowing your soul to be refreshed with God’s truth and promises.
Each month, subscribers of this community receive a letter from The Tiny House on the Hill that includes:
- Practical but meaningful ways to draw closer to God
- Creative ways to show God’s love to your family, friends, and strangers
- The latest happenings at the house, my books, and ministry
- What I’m reading in the Book Nook
- A favorite (often family) recipe
- A FUN giveaway…and more!
It’s pithy but packed with grace-filled goodness.
So, come on over and sit a spell. I’d love to get to know you!
Photo by Maria Shanina on Unsplash
Cathy, I’m always prompted to pause when I read your beautiful words!
Thank you for the kind words, Tammy. ((( HUGS )))
Hi Cathy,
As my life has been changing, your creative pauses refreshes my soul. Just recently laid off and homeschooling, I now added a new love and moving to the mix. Thanks for the reminder to find a moment for myself. Would love to visit your tiny house.
Love you,
Laurie
Laurie, I’m sorry about your being laid off. Praying other, even better, opportunities open for you. Congrats, though, to adding a new love to the mix!
Love you back!
Oh how I wish we were neighbors…and Mrs. DeeDee too…and could enjoy a cup of tea or mug of coffee together??☕️
I would LOVE that too, Kristi!! We could enjoy several cups together. 🙂 If we can’t meet at Blue Ridge in May, perhaps DD and I could call you and do a little Facetime that week?
As I sit and read, the rain is falling and the temps will drop almost 30 degrees overnight. A warm cup of goodness will be just right tomorrow. Your suggestions are truly creative and always so doable. But what I admire most is the way you help us encourage others in the Lord. I thank God for your obedience and your friendship. Love you!
I look forward to the cooler temps too — and for the same reason. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words, Charla. You’re such a blessing to me. I thank the Lord for you, sweet friend.
Always love the gentleness of your words Ms. Cathy. Fall can be a pretty crazy time around the farm/ranch. Planting, weaning, winterizing; it can be overwhelming at times. It can also be a great time to recharge and refocus. A cup of coffee (or cocoa) on a cool evening out on the patio. A hint of coolness in the breeze that can refresh your parched soul. And then a friend or spouse comes along out of nowhere and does something for you totally unexpected, seldom truly deserved, but oh so appreciated. I close my eyes and smile at the very thought. My next thought is “Lord, what can I do, and who should I do it for?” God’s blessings ma’am.
The thought of a cup of cocoa on a cool evening is a lovely one, J.D. I’m thankful you create quality downtime on the ranch for you and Diane to enjoy. God bless you both! Thank you for taking the time to share. 🙂