For the last few weeks, I’ve been working in our hot, dirty garage, cleaning out years of accumulated junk. There are boxes full of things from Jim’s parents’ house, my parents’ house, and my aunt’s house. Some of those items came to live in our garage because we couldn’t decide what to do with them; others because they have sentimental value. But the time has come to sort, clean out, and let go.
Following are garage reflections:
Defining “Important”
The definition of what is important varies from person to person. Some people are so tied to their possessions that they feel their things are part of their identity. And sometimes, what we once considered important doesn’t hold that same level of relevance for us.
How do you define “important”? Is it time to re-evaluate?
Sorting
Part of the process of cleaning out is sorting, a thankless, but necessary, task. You don’t know what you have, until you go through the process of placing like items together. In the sorting process in our garage, I’ve discovered many multiples. When things are disorganized, it’s often easier to buy another instead of searching. Apparently, over the last 35 years in this house, we’ve done a lot of buying another!
Do you need to do some sorting in your own life? The process of taking a good, long look at our attitudes and actions is similar to assessing what garage items to keep or let go.
Sometimes, we need a little heat, a fire lighted under us to do the hard work of self-examination. Perhaps it’s time to put anger, resentment, and unforgiveness in the trash pile, and kindness, compassion, and caring in the keep and utilized stack. Like a hot, dirty garage clean out, most of us don’t want to face the task, but once tackled, a sense of accomplishment and forward motion result.
Why Letting Go is Hard
For me, I find letting go of material things is hard if they are tied to my childhood, or my parents. Nostalgia is a major component in why letting go of possessions is hard. However, usually, those items only hold sentimental value for me. My children treasure different objects.
Letting go is a process, one with which most of us struggle. We don’t want to take the time, or make the decisions, but letting go of things, and long-held hurts, anger, and resentment is freeing.
Eternal Stockpile
Matthew 6, verses 19-21, provide an eternal perspective on possessions, security, and focus. Focus on things, and their value, is a narrow perspective, while eternal focus provides a wide-lens point of view. What we do, how we behave, the example we set, our relationship with God and others, all reflect an eternal stockpile. Things are temporal and left behind, while true treasure is eternal.
Are your treasures earthly, or eternal? Does your life mirror what is important to you? Go sit in your hot garage and contemplate.
“Some people store up treasures in their homes here on earth. This is a shortsighted practice—don’t undertake it. Moths and rust will eat up any treasure you may store here. Thieves may break into your homes and steal your precious trinkets. Instead, put up your treasures in heaven where moths do not attack, where rust does not corrode, and where thieves are barred at the door. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21 VOICE).
©CandyArrington
Candy Arrington is an award-winning writer, blogger, and speaker. She often writes on tough topics with a focus on moving through, and beyond, difficult life circumstances. Candy has written hundreds of articles, stories, and devotions published by numerous outlets including: Inspiration.org, Arisedaily.com, CBN.com, Healthgrades.com, Care.com, Focus on the Family, NextAvenue.org, CountryLiving.com, and Writer’s Digest. Candy’s books include Life on Pause: Learning to Wait Well (Bold Vision Books), When Your Aging Parent Needs Care (Harvest House), and AFTERSHOCK: Help, Hope, and Healing in the Wake of Suicide (B&H Publishing Group).
To receive Candy’s blog, Forward Motion, via email, go to https://candyarrington.com/blog/ and scroll to the bottom of the page to sign up.