About six years ago, my husband and I bought a smaller home that required that we downsize our belongings. But truth be told, our daughter had gotten married and moved out years earlier and our son was an adult in college, so there was much to get rid of that wasn’t even ours to begin with.  Cutting our belongings by a third wasn’t too painful. It was a bit like skimming off the top, things like college books (from 30 years earlier), homeschool materials (that we no longer use), and photos of the elephants from our tenth trip to the zoo, etc.
It was a good feeling to get rid of so much stuff – mostly stored in the attic anyway.
About 2 years ago, we downsized again, choosing to share a home with our son and his family, so we had at least two of everything and we put more stuff in the attic.  Still much of what we got rid of was fairly extraneous to us.
Then about 2 months ago, we downsized again and this time it hurt!  I had to start digging into stuff I really cared about but no longer had the space for.  There were a few tearful moments as I waded through framed photos that were near and dear to my heart but no longer had the space to display.  I had to let go.
My husband said, “Just put stuff in the attic.” I have become more and more opposed to attics because I just stored stuff that I wanted but never actually enjoyed because it was stored in the attic. I just enjoyed the idea of having it… somewhere.
It’s easy to let go of things we don’t care about (zoo photos) but what about those things we do care about?  Are we willing to hold those things just as loosely before the Lord?
I never saw myself as materialistic and I was confident that I held everything with an open hand, but I’m discovering it isn’t true; and although I am shedding pounds and pounds of “stuff,” it is an emotional process that I don’t much like.
There is wisdom in the minimalist trend.  The less we own, the less there is to own us. The less we own, the less we have to stress over. The less we own, the less clutter we have physically and emotionally. The less we own the more room we have in our lives. The less we own the more space we have to breathe.
God doesn’t want our stuff to lure our affections away from Him or to distract us from what is really important.
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21
May our “t” treasures on earth be held with a light grip and our “T” Treasure in heaven be our greatest joy and longing.
Blessings,
Diane
Diane Hunt serves part-time on the staff of America’s Keswick providing ministry support from her home in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.