Now that Christmas is long over, many of our gifts are forgotten and tucked away in a corner of the closet. Why am I telling you this? I was given a bag full of beautiful wrapped miscellaneous gifts, all of them receiving the usual “ooh - ahh” and “just what I wanted.”
In the bottom of the bag was a plain brown envelope. When I opened it, I then found a plain brown book. It wasn’t large or thick or beautiful, until I read it and realized its value as a gift.
The book titled “A Christmas Gift” by Keith Gaddy Davis, revealed how he had been given a bag of gifts from a friend he hadn’t expected to get anything from. He was embarrassed because he had no gift to give in return. He nevertheless dug into the gifts.
The giver was obviously intrigued with the gift of a calculator because he was poor at math. He picked up the next elegant package. When he shook it there was no sound. After unwrapping it, he discovered the box contained only tissue paper and cotton! Had she forgotten the gift?
He held the box, not knowing what to say. Then quietly in explanation she said, “It’s a pause, use it anywhere, anytime you need it. It will always be there.” The empty box seemed to overflow. “I know you’ve been busy, and I thought you could use a pause,” she added.
Since that Christmas, I have found how often I had to use that pause. It is always with me and as good as the day it was given. It will always be uniquely mine and yet I don’t mind giving it away. I want to share my treasure because it has been so good for me.
When I find myself burdened with activity, I can stop and pause and put things back into perspective. When I need to make a decision, I can pause and think. If I am tired, I pause.
The pause is there when I can’t sleep, and I am all alone with my thoughts. It’s there when the morning sky starts to light the world around me, or the sun goes down so red in the west. The pause has given me time to hold back words I shouldn’t say, or given me time to find the words I should.
I pause and look at the pictures of my grandchildren on the wall. I pause to review a recipe. I pause in wonder. I pause in pain. I pause before I say yes and also before I say no. I pause to speak with friends and I pause to speak to strangers. It is funny how your mind instantly thinks pause. There are countless time I think pause and thank God for something.
It isn’t Christmas. It isn’t wrapped in gold paper. But, it is still as good as new and I want you to have it too. Like a quiet moment, quick but reverent as a prayer. I hope you accept a pause and use it as I have. It is a gift which has done so much for me. I can only pause and share it with you.
One size fits all. The older it gets the more I realize the importance of it. Even if you choose to give it away, it remains forever your personal private pause. Thank you, God, for The Pause!
Why am I telling you this? Because it was a gift which was given me that will live with me forever and it means so much to me. Good things should be shared. Pause to look at snow flakes, rain drops, flowers that grow; birds that flit and sing, and squirrels that hustle to find corn, nuts etc.
A pause gives us the time to enjoy life and see the little things which make us happy.
Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented they like to read about events such as family or school reunions, birthdays and anniversaries, or birth and wedding announcements. In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us. If you have news, please contact me.
Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.
Birthdays and anniversaries:
• Thursday, March 22nd: National Goof Off Day! Gordy Carroll, Brenna Lynn Hagen, Shannon Johnson, Karin Lieberg, Bob Sommers, Leah Elaine Bergerson, Jerry Peterson, Nancy & Jerry Walterman, Dennis & Glenda Blouin.
• Friday, March 23rd: Chris Newgard, Penny Obermoller, Alan Edwardson, Troy Johnson, Troy Wagner, Jason Dwight, Alexi Jo Kitzer, Alex Dobberstein, Delaney Sue Vander Syde, Alexander James Thompson, Peter Bergerson, Chris Rutheford, Phyllis Anderson, Glea & DeLores Hyland, Rick & Liz Wangsness.
• Saturday, March 24th: Gail Ottesen, Seth Chad Staloch, Dave Meixner, Kurt Hanson, Laurie Phagan, Lucetta Kermes, Wes & Ruth Neidermeier, Angie & Cory Klemmensen, Tony & Sandra Tonsing, Lonna & Dean Broitzman.
• Sunday, March 25th: Brad Hagen, Michelle Ritz, Pam Anderson, Faith Jensen, Tom Marlin, Trevor Loverink, Bernice Farr Mattson.
• Monday, March 26th: Nikita Zelpha Peterson, Mary Lou Faldat, Jackie Draayer, David Hanson, Ray Coxworth, Lonnie Misgen, Ginger Cornelius, Dillon Hanson, Daryl Jensen, Duane Morreim, Amy Dobberstein, Marge Wobschall, Mary Lou Spurr, Gerrit & Jean Molenaar, Jeff & Robin Christensen, Jennifer & Matthew Dinneen.
• Tuesday, March 27th: Kim Weckwerth Farr, Jim Ottesen, Verona Winegar, Tom Lund, Tina Jensen Wangen, Jodi Loverink, Neil Born, Ralph Randall, Todd & Sheri Utpadel, Wes & Julie Schroenrock.
• Wednesday, March 28th: Jordan Brye Wagner, Katie Ann Lee, her 8th; Daryl Van Ravenhorst, Alan Olson, Paul Marlin, Josh Stevens, Daniel Suleter, Richard & Lisa (Long) Hocking.
It is your special day. Get carried away!
