Simplifying Life: Storing Up Treasures or Possessions 2.0

Okay, let's just say this hasn't been the most productive month for me in the fasting process. I've had a TON on my plate as of late. We are in the process of packing for an exciting mission trip to Nicaragua in 3 DAYS and that has pretty much consumed most of my time this last week. Not to mention Halloween. Needless to say, I've gotten very little done in the "dividing and conquering and organizing" of my possessions this week.  I did, however, go through all the boys old shoes and selected 16 pairs to take to Nicaragua with us to give out as we see need. I hear that kids down there NEED shoes. There are a lot of parasites and kiddos are continuously getting sick because they run around barefoot in town and on the beaches. Hopefully, 16 children can benefit from the pairs that we take. I'd like to go through my own shoe collection too, but I'm running out of suitcase space.

And I'll be a little honest. I'm a bit attached to my clutter. Still. I know, you would think we would be over it by now.

I just can't seem to pull myself away from some things. For example, baby stuff. Lordy! My husband "thinks" we are done having children. I beg to differ with him (wink). I would love to try once more for a little girl.  I think the thought of having a daughter makes my husband go mentally insane. (He's probably worried that she will turn out just like her mother!) So back to the stuff. I have somehow managed to hoard a whole garage worth of baby things that could (and should) be used on one more little bundle. Crib, jumparoo, play yard, baby swing, bumbo chair, exer-saucer, the list goes on and on. And on and on. It's probably time to go through it all and give it away to an expecting family who could be blessed by it. I know this in my heart, it's just so hard to give away something that reminds me of a time I hold so dear. Mine aren't babies anymore. Three and five are young, don't get me wrong. But I desperately still crave the days of infancy again. The cuddling and rocking to sleep. Those days have past and holding onto "things" just for memory sake is just taking up much-needed space. So. . . .I shall tear myself apart from these things and take hold of my freedom from too many possessions. It's a bittersweet battle than I'm in currently.

I know next week will probably be a major turning point in this phase of the fast for me. Seeing others in more need than I am used to will put things in perspective for me. Nicaragua is a "third-world country" and they experience poverty like I've never known. How I pray that getting a taste for the simplified life will spark something inside me that I could bring home. I desperately want to be undone. I want to feel compassion like I've never known and no longer feel attached to my "stuff". I want to see it for what it really is.....temporary.  I know longer want to find my happiness in temporal things. I want the joy that I find today and tomorrow and for the rest of my days to be in the things eternal; the things that I can pass on to future generations.

And so. . .I shall continue to declutter. Pray for me. I'm ready for next week. I'm ready for divine revelation. I ready for God to give me a grand new understanding of what it means to be "rich".

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:19-21

Want to read more about my fast

from "possessions"? 

Possessions 3.0: Doing It Scared