Pause is the #FiveMinuteFriday prompt for this week. So I am doing just that. Sitting on my porch swing, I am taking time to pause and relax.
I’m drinking a cup of Twining’s English Breakfast Tea with a drop of Bergamot essential oil, turning it into Earl Grey tea. Yum!
This is what the sky looked like when I came outside.
One of the first things I did was to pray a blessing over myself and those I interacted with today.
The idea came from a list of four resolves my daughter, Jamie, shared a while ago.
- Speak a blessing over myself daily.
- Whisper a blessing/prayer over everyone I interact with.
- Breathe deeply. Intentionally.
- Put nothing on my to-do list that requires me to be untrue to all of the above.
Hygge Helps Us Pause
My word for the year is hygge, which goes right along with the theme of this prompt. It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned it, so I’d like to share this quote from Louise Thomsen Brits on page 126 of her book – The Book of Hygge.
Hygge helps us slow down and take time to find beauty in what seems ordinary. ~Louise Thomsen Brits
I find beauty in the rain. Sunny days are great, but rainy days bring refreshment. When the sun is hot, a spring shower is welcome.
When we hygger, we frame the moment, give it our full attention, savor and hold it, in an awareness that the moment will pass. ~Louise Thomsen Brits, The Book of Hygge (page 159).
I am framing this moment. My two dogs are lying, one in front and one in the back of the swing. I feel relaxed, enjoying the sound of heavy raindrops. There is beauty in the water droplets settling on the trees.
My time on the porch included reading Psalm 28. Here’s a verse that was encouraging to me:
The Lord is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart celebrates,
and I give thanks to him with my song.
Are you finding time to pause today? It’s good for everyone to take a break now and then.
The rain subsided a little, and the sky lightened up a bit. I felt refreshed as the rain and breezes cooled things off.
I’m linking up with: #FiveMinuteFriday, #Grace&Truth, #FaithOnFire, #FreshMarketFriday, #SundayThoughts, #TrekkingThru, #InspireMeMonday, #porchstories
My word for the year too! Hygge is so wonderful
Yes, I remember now that we both had the same word. Yes, hygge is wonderful! Blessings to you, Tara! xo
This post breathed Hygge right in to my space as I read it! Love it!!!
Oh, Karrilee, I’m so glad! Blessings to you! xo
Thank you for giving me a moment with you on your beautiful porch Gayl. And please let Jamie know that I love her list of 4 Resolves also. What a great way to find peaceful moments in the midst of your days. And I am praying a blessing over you and Jamie right now, my friend! Love & Hugs!
I’m so glad you stopped by! What would be wonderful is if you could actually be here. 🙂 I’ll be seeing Jamie tonight so I’ll let her know. Thank you so much for your prayers and your sweet friendship, dear Bettie. Blessings, love and hugs to you! xoxo
I learned something new today. Love that you added how to make earl grey tea! =) This is definitely worth a pause. Thank you.
Yay! You know, I almost left that out. Before I wrote I was going to include that I was drinking tea, but I forgot until I had almost finished the post, so I added it. 🙂 Just make sure the essential oil you use is approved for ingesting, because some are not pure.
Thanks for visiting, Lisa. Blessings to you!
Thank you, dear Gayl, for teaching me a new word with such a beautiful example of how to live it out. Hygge is new to me, and now I want to look into it. 🙂
Blessings ~ Wendy
Hygge is a lovely word and the practice is such a welcoming idea. I have a lot to learn, but there are places on the web and books that explain in more detail what it is. Thanks so much for your encouraging comments. Blessings to you, dear Wendy!
I never heard of hygge. But reading your post caused me to look it up. It’s a lovely idea, and it fits with how I want to live my retirement years.
Yes, I agree that hygge is a lovely idea! I’m glad to have introduced you to it. 🙂 Blessings to you and thanks for visiting, Debbie!
Very nice post! I like the idea of “framing the moment“. Your FMF neighbor.
Thank you, Katha! I like that idea, too. 🙂 It sort of helps to think of it that way. Thanks for visiting. Blessings to you!
Gayl, you look as calm, rested and serene as the practice of hygge suggests is possible for its adherents! I love the idea of it, especially the prayerful mindfulness it can bring to ordinary things. I hope to read a book I have about hygge during my blogging break. I’m stopping by today from the #graceandtruth link up and I’m blessed as always by the beautiful peace that emanates from your space! It’s an internet spot that invites us to stop and exhale. Love and hugs! xoxo
Oh, thank you, dear Joy. I do love the idea of hygge, too, and I’ve kind of neglected my word for a bit. I’m coming back to it now. I want so much to remember to pause often and be thankful. It blesses me to know that you were blessed here today. Hugs to you with much love, my dear sister! xoxo
Hi i am visiting from the FMF link up. I really enjoyed the four resolves you mentioned and I think I will incorporate that into my life as well. I look forward to reading more from you.
Hi, so glad you visited today! Yes, those resolves are good, and I’m going to try to remember to incorporate them daily. It’s so important to take time to pause if even for a few seconds just to stop and be thankful. Blessings to you!
This is the first week (and we’ve lived here six years!) that I’ve actually gone outside and enjoyed our back porch in the morning. I had to wrap up in a blanket this morning, for it was cool. My devotions take longer when I’m outside–so many beautiful blessings to view and hear and smell–but I think it’s good to pause and take that time and acknowledge God’s love.
So glad you were able to spend that time outside in the morning! I don’t do it nearly as much as I’d like to early in the morning. I guess I need to get myself to bed earlier at night and then I could get up early while the world is fresh and new.
Yes, there is so much to see outside, and it also points us to God and His love. Blessings to you, Anita!
I learned a new word Gayl! I looked it up and love it too! This is a great reminder to pause and take it all in. Every moment is packed full of beauty!
Isn’t it fun to learn new words? Especially when it’s such a beautiful word. Yes, if we only look for it we can find beauty in every moment. Blessings to you, Char!
I appreciate the four resolves you wrote about – just reading them (and then doing them) sounds so good to me. What a peaceful way to begin the day- it helps to frame the day and gives a guide for making choices with time for the day. It’s a practical way of being intentional about making decisions. Praying a blessing over myself was a new thought to me; thank you for sharing that.
And, ah… reading about the porch and swing again! It makes me miss it. So nice to find you through FMF, Gayl.
Dear Prasanta,
Forgive me for taking so long to respond to your comment. I must have gotten busy and it slipped through the cracks until I noticed it today. I also like those resolves, though I often forget. Maybe I should make a little card to have on my desk to remind me each morning. Yes, we both love the porch swing, don’t we? Wish you could join me some day. Blessings to you!