I don’t know how we managed to fit four people and all their “stuff” in such a small home all these years, but we did. Leaving the Midwest and a four bedroom home with four big closets wasn’t easy. Especially, when we moved into a two bedroom townhouse. I had to get rid of practically every thing. Then we excitedly left those small quarters for our new three bedroom home. After the new wore off, we would joke about our midget home and how small the tub was and how cheap the fixtures were. Yet we are still grateful to be living with a roof over our heads and each corner is filled with our “stuff.”

Now the nest is empty our children have moved off and it’s just me and Hubs. However this nest is still busting at the seams with “stuff.” Last night I text the kids and asked if they’d like some of the keepsakes that were buried in a box in the closet. They both want me to keep the “stuff” in the box in MY closet! But seriously, I can’t shut the closet doors because the contents are spilling out into the room. I need an intervention!

As I get in the “Spring cleaning” mode, and go through my totes, I am reminded of the elderly couple, who lived next door when I was growing up. Their house was filled with cardboard boxes and boxes piled over my head, leaving a very narrow path winding through their whole house. We were their only family, and when they passed we were left to clean out the house. We kept a few things, sold a lot of things and pitched a ton of things. What makes a person hold on to so much “stuff”? Me personally, I keep things for the memories. Pulling these totes out of my closet and looking inside, my mind goes back in time. As I pull out these treasures I am moved to tears, laughter and a slight fear. Fear that one day I may not remember the meaning behind these treasures.  While I am motivated by this fear and possibility, I start to weed through and pitch some things. Some items bring me back to places in my brain that aren’t useful, like hurt and anger. For instance, I’ve kept a ten page hate letter that an in-law had written almost 15 years ago. I also had a journal of all the wrongs that had been done to me over the years. Some things, need to be kept and some tossed!

So I am sharing one of the many items that I have saved. These little paper treasures are a little over 33 years old and probably obsolete now, thanks to cell phones and texting. And I have no idea the time frame on the cigar box?

As I read through these now funny, notes that my classmates had written me in high school I couldn’t help but laugh and cry. Now who could get rid of these!!?

Comparing all this closet stuff to the negative emotions, and memories stored in our brain. I wonder what’s in there that we might need to pitch?  Do you have anything buried that’s not beneficial? Any unresolved issues, hurt or anger stored anywhere? Are you keeping score of all the times you were wronged?

I encourage you today, to join me and “Spring clean” all those un-useful places that keep us buried.

Lord, we thank you for our homes and the families that live and love inside. Give us the courage to throw away negative clutter inside our home and inside our brains, and the wisdom to know what to hold on to. Keep us always moving forward and not buried down in our negative pasts and our sins. In Jesus name Amen.