Paws (n)  an animal’s foot having claws and pads.

Pause (n)  a temporary stop

After a brief pause, Word Well Wednesday is back!  Since I took a small break, today’s word has been lingering in my brain.  It’s counterpart, paws, jumped right in next to it fairly easily with a couple of recent incidents.

Growing up, our family seemed to have a steady run of pets. Cats were the easier choice and often frequented our household.  We added a dog soon after the last of the cats met its demise.  As an adult, the pet ownership pattern continued and at one point, the pets outnumbered the humans in the home.  Paws were plentiful!

As of November 2023, 470 million dogs were kept as pets throughout the world.  Add to that number, 370 million cats, and there are a whole lot of little – and big – paws frolicking this planet!  It would seem, the companionship brought by these critters is unmatched.  Many couples are opting for four-legged fur babies rather than having a child.

If you have owned a dog or cat, there is something incredibly soothing about having a little paw in your hand.  Our last cat – the best of the best kitties ever – had the smoothest little pink paw pads.  He loved soothing paw massages.  Another cat in our line-up of rescue critters, never learned how to retract his claws.  There was no paw holding happening unless you wanted an involuntary hand piercing!

Recently, I have had a couple of people in my circle have to make the difficult choice of putting their loved companion down. These sweet pups had been in their lives for an extended number of years and were seamlessly part of the family.  It has to be one of the toughest decisions to make.  The sudden silence of the patter of paws leaves an unbearable hole in our heart.

Pause or to stop for moment, is the counterpart of paws.  We take a breath or stop the rush by pausing all activity.  Knowing when to pause is a great skill to provide balance in our day-to-day routines.  While the holiday season is full of joy, we can overbook ourselves and then suddenly find we’re in a chaotic cycle that does anything but focus on the goodness of the season.  Whether you celebrate Kwanza, Hanukah, Christmas or another holiday, the core is not meant to be rush, rush! 

I love Christmas and everything about it – from the true celebration of Christ’s birth to the decorations, lights, gift giving, music, generosity – all of it brings joy.  The most special moments for me are the quiet of the cold nights accompanied by traditional sweet carols.  When I intentionally pause, and take in the root of Christmas, calm follows.

This holiday season, take a moment to enjoy an intentional pause.  I think it might be made even better with an eggnog latte or a hot mulled cider.  Break out the Christmas cookies and in no time, the paws in your household will be snuggled in close to you.