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Last week I wondered something.
Some of the books I sat aside to fling away (150 so far) are ones I'd imagined always keeping. Like, the-day-before-Heaven-keeping.
And during past book cullings, my mind's back rooms whispered, "Relax. You can always buy more books later." Yet this time? Only silence.
"What does this feel like?" I mused. "This feels final-ish, like something from long ago, yet what is it?"
Similarly, I wrapped paper toweling around knick-knacks, ones with huge sentimental value, and placed them also in plastic bags. Into our recycling tote went pretty magazine rooms from decades-old binders and, also, vintage poems I'd written. I even released a journal (more will follow).
"Man, what does this feel like?," I kept asking amongst the papers all over our guest room floor.
Finally, the answer came. This feels like cleaning-up after a party. This party being, my life.
Party items--streamers, signs, refreshments, paper plates and cups--serve a specific purpose during a gathering's duration. But you do not keep them forever. You use, play with and appreciate party things; they help you celebrate.
And then you bag them up.
You let them go. Release them. Then, with your memories, you move on to the next thing, hopefully a Life-brimming journey.
God's 'next things' always contain a vibrancy, for He's all about Life. He is Life.
Whew. This 'cleaning-up after a party' analogy will (more likely) enable me to release what God asks. He sees my future! And in this moment He knows exactly what will invigorate me in years ahead and what will unnecessarily wear. me. out.
Early.
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." --- 1 Peter 5:7 Cooperate with God and we'll walk in wisdom rather than exhaustion. Release past seasons and we'll shake-off burdens and step in freedom. When God's finished with a season in our lives, we need to be, also.
Want a new life? First release the old one.
Warning: Old seasons God's finished with may contain the following:
friends
books
magazines
furniture
jobs
good memories
bad memories
old habits
child-rearing
yard sales
inefficient ways
gifts, presents
fears
movies, tv series
unforgiveness
houses
cooking, recipes
wrong thinking, lessons
teachers
hobbies
diets
ministries (yours or others')
dishes
thrift store-shopping for fun
paintings
yard work
clothes
goals
dreams
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Ugh. Hanging my head here..... but moving on with much hope!
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Oh, the humidity!
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The more stuff we own, the more energy we expend caring for it, energy we could've used in more eternal ways.
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"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15
3 comments:
I had to laugh out loud at the picture about humidity. Dennis and I were just talking about it not ten minutes ago! We are NOT used to this. It was 100 in the shade on our deck yesterday and at 7:30 this morning it was 84. And the air is so thick with moisture it feels like you're walking through a waterfall. Our yard needs weeding and I can't stand to go outside. I merely watered by flower baskets yesterday and during that ten minutes or so, my clothes were entirely soaked.
I can relate so much to your posts about disgarding "things." We got rid of so much when we moved and I know I could probably do even more. However, I do want to be selective about it and not get rid of things that will have to be re-purchased.
I'm cheering you on in your endeavors from here in swamy Nebraska though.
Blessings,
Betsy
Heat and Humidity...ugh. I keep thinking that before we know it, fall will be here and we'll be able to go outside and breathe again. In the meantime, we can find much to do inside. Debra, when you realized the tasks you've been working on feel like cleaning up after a party, bells and whistles went off in my head. You hit the nail on the head! I've been gradually going through all of our things, too. When I started looking through those neatly labeled boxes, I realized that I had been hauling this stuff around for most of my adult life. Often, decades went by without me even opening some of those boxes. I know the Holy Spirit is helping me because it has been easier to release things. We don't know what the future holds, but we can get ready to travel light! Thanks, Debra, for sharing your insights with us. It has helped to motivate me.
That was QUITE the list! I am relating.🥴
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