Things

Excuse me while I rant for a bit. I have said many times that things are to be our servants, not our masters. For the past several months, I feel like I am a servant to my things. Maybe, largely, because we moved this summer. This was our third move in three years. Two of those moves were from one state to another. You may think we enjoy I the process. I confess--I never do very well with this sort of thing.

We left a bunch of stuff in storage in SC three years ago. We were planning to be in VA only one year, so we decided not to move everything. Well, it ended up being three years. We finally traipsed down there last weekend with both our van and pickup to bring the stuff back. While it was wonderful to see all the folks, I am still dealing with the stuff we brought back. It had been in a storage shed. Anyone from the South knows those big roaches love boxes. So the boxes had to be emptied before being brought into the house. A lot of the stuff had to be cleaned up and packed back up in clean boxes until I get a china closet.

I get overwhelmed with lots of stuff. There are some things that just have to go. I came across this ugly green bowl someone gave me thirteen years ago. I felt obligated to keep it because it was a gift. We have moved eight times since I got it. I have not used it one time. Do I need to keep it? I have decided--quite awhile to late--that I do not keep it. I have seen the lady maybe two or three times since she gave it to me. I am sure she does not remember she gave it to me. There are too many things in my life like that.

How many times do you regret getting rid of stuff? Most times, I feel so great after dropping a box off at the thrift store. I do remember one baby dress of Maria's I regretted giving away. It was sooo cute. That is a pretty good track record--and worth taking the risk again.

You may think I am not sentimental. I am a paradox. Certain things are very difficult for me to part with. When I opened some of the boxes, the things inside made me smile--There was a box with some of the drawings and cards Maria made for me over the past number of years. I would have an awfully hard time pitching those. I found all my old report cards. I also found my grade school and high school diplomas. I was actually looking for my high school diploma. I need a copy of it to legally homeschool Maria. I also found a bunch of papers from my school days.

I guess I feel like I need balance--It would be so easy to get pitch happy because I am so tired of dealing with things. On the other hand, we aren't to be wasteful. I often think, however, of what God told us is going to happen to this stuff when He returns. So if we don't need it, we won't miss it, and it won't give me or anyone in my household pleasure, it needs to go to someone who will use it or enjoy it!!