Today, I spent the afternoon cleaning and organizing my cluddered apartment in the spirit of New Year. It’s been on my “To Do” list for a while now, and I needed to get rid of some things anyways. I put on my rock jams and determined that I was going to work from one end of my room to the other while building two piles: a trash pile, and a GoodWill pile.
As I began my conquest for organized mass chaos, I started with the boxes that have been Toe-Stubbing Central for months now. I examined item by item in each box, and found that at least 60% of what I was storing in them were items that I thought I would need, but never have found a use for. The other 30% of my findings were items that had sentimental values like my grandpa’s doodles, old birthday cards with sweet hand-written notes, and items that symbolize people or places to me. The remaining 10% of the loot were boring documents that I don’t care about, but I’m too paranoid that I will need the minute I throw them away. I was able to get rid of somethings , but it turns out that I wasn’t making enough space. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything else that I really wanted to get rid of. It was quite the 30 minute dilemma of internal conflict. However, this led me to as myself “Why do I want to keep this if it does nothing but take up space?”
Honestly, I’ve been holding on to some of these things because I like having things that might have a future use for it or things that have sentimental value. It’s convenient for the once-in-a-blue-moon use. The truth is, however, that it never really gets used enough to justify keeping my room a cramped space so that I can keep it buried in a box and end up forgetting it’s there. The sentimental items are nice reminders of memories of loved ones, but I know that realistically my loved ones are not in those items. I miss my grandpa like crazy since he passed away years ago but he isn’t in his doodles, his books, or his photographs as much as I feel like he is. I am putting value into items that I have no use for, and in the process I am taking up space in my room that could be filled by something more useful (like walking space and breathing room). I had to make some hard decisions, but after going through a second time I found a few more things I was willing to sacrifice to make room. Throughout this proces though, I began thinking about the World Race.
A sacrifices I have to make to go on the World Race is that I won’t be able to store all of my things for safe keeping while I am gone. I will have to sell or give away what I can since I have no place to store them and I do not wish to burden others with holding on to all of my things for me. I will have to say goodbye to a good chunk of my cloths, my car, my books, my super cool coffee mug collection, and more. Those are things that I use daily, but I can’t take with me and can’t hold on to while I am gone. It will be harder to get rid of my everyday comforts and personal items than some of the things I got rid of today. However, God started placing a joy in my heart when I began to think about what I was giving away. I became more and more excited about giving away my stuff when God reminded me what I am exchanging these items for. I am giving up these temporary objects in exchange for the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life. I’m letting go of sentimental items for something much more meaningful: a life glorifying to God.
I’m writing all of this to say that it is easy to look at our things and believe that they bring us joy or that we need them, but the truth is that we take nothing from this life with us to heaven. What I will see in heaven, however, are the lives God was able to change due to my surrender of my possessions. To clarify, this is not a message about getting rid of everything you own so you have only the necessities. I believe God blesses us with what we have and we are allowed to enjoy what possessions we have while it is ours, however, we must not hold on to these things when it is past time to let go. This is a message to say that God has made it clear to me today that it is worth trading every single item I have to open up room in my life for God to move, and as a result of His movement see people be reached for God.
I hope every one has a great New Years! Here is to the start of a life changing year!
Thank you for sharing…I really needed to hear this today. As you know we just moved into our forever home. We have so much “stuff” that is packed away, waiting for the right time to be used. I have sensed God telling me for the last year or so to live a simpler life. I’m not a New Year’s resolution kind of person but I believe this may be the year I change my thinking. This year, I’m going to work towards living a simpler life, getting rid of the clutter and time wasted things that keep me from being with God. Thank you again for your inspirational words Abby! May God bless you and keep you safe in His care. Love you!!
Great read, Abby! We’re excited to see what God’s doing (& all that He’s going to do) in your life! Love you!??