If Chapter 3 of 7 by Jen Hatmaker spoke to you in any way, we want to know about it! The Nester shared with us this week how her stuff has affected her life. And Kylie is sharing a bit below on how this chapter changed her outlook on possessions. Click on over to her blog to read the full story! We’d love for you to add your voice to the conversation, too!
Just link up your post on this month’s topic below, or share in the comments!
{Kylie @ Bus Driver}
Why was this giving away of possessions so hard? I knew the truth. I knew what scripture said about the giving to the poor, of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. I knew it meant loving Jesus to do unto the least of these. And I do love Him. So very much! Why the tension?! “This is just stuff”, I’d say as I cried and filled another bin of baby clothes to give away. But the Holy Spirit had ahold and was not letting go. “This is just stuff,” He’d reply, “and you’re enslaved to your stuff.” OUCH.It was then I learned that terms like sacrifice, rich, poor, excess… were all matters of my heart. I didn’t think I had much by American suburban life standards (gag me.) But my heart was wound tightly around what I did have. I remembered a night more than a year ago when I was reading to my kids before bed and the line from Matthew 13:44 read, “then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” I knew it meant something for me when I couldn’t shake it for days. Suddenly the pieces fit together.
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Amen! Sometimes I think we should all live in a tent for a while, like the Israelite s did. That would bring “needs” into sharp focus!
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I’ve given away so much stuff over the years, (and I still do) that the only furniture I own is what is in my bedroom with the exception of the antique silverware table in the dining room and one glass top end table in the living room. (I live with my son, my granddaughter and his fiance.) My books continued to get pared down but mostly they are in the garage in boxes because we haven’t bought bookcases yet for them. Most of my books are reference, design books and Christian books. Compared to others, I don’t really have a lot and my bedroom is small. I’m content with what I have.
It truly amazes me how we get so attached to things and when it is time to part with them we cling for dear life. It is like going through a grieving process. I didn’t read the book (or chapter) however reading Kylie’s comment hit home with me. I was going through my closet parting with some clothing and had this to say on my FB status this morning…
Cleaning out my closet. Feels like I’m departing with a piece of myself. I actually found myself silently eulogizing each piece of clothing as I sat it aside. SMH So sad how we become attached to material things and are so reluctant to let go. But, I shall shed my tears and send them on to a me place to be loved. lol
Oh no!!! I just realized, if I’m having such a hard time letting go of the clothes…OMG my shoes. I can’t do it. The shoes! They gotta stay. Can’t get rid of the shoes. Sigh! This is a hard thing to deal with. Sigh! Oh my! 🙁
A friend commented on my status, “Omg I have the same, problem can’t do it..u should see my closet…”
My reply yo her…
“Girl, I have been used to having 2 closets of my own, full of clothes and shoes. I downsized last year, (in space) but couldn’t bring myself to let go of the clothes. It is time to grow up and be the strong woman I know I am and let go. But the shoes. Well, let’s just say I still have some growing up to do.”
I took on a 27 day personal challenge back in July where I got rid of 27 items each day for 27 days. Check out my blog to see how I did it. I took pictures of each day’s clean-out and I also weighed my stuff. My blog is cgheartlife.blogspot.com and the direct link to my challenge is http://cgheartlife.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-personal-challenge.html