Day Eight – Removing Clutter

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
Proverbs 14:29

Yesterday was overflow/large item trash day. It was a day much anticipated. I could finally get rid of the 4 x 4’s post that had rotted and removed from a raised strawberry-bed. To my dismay, the city workers left them neatly stacked as I’d place them at the curb. So, sometime later I called 311. I told the city worker they forgot to pick up the rotted posts and could they come back. She said, “I’m sorry. We don’t pick those up. They are considered part of construction material.” I replied, “they were removed from my garden.” She said, “I understand but they are considered construction material.” After the soft blow of disappointment hit me like a ten ton brick I sat there bewildered. I didn’t want to drag those things to the backyard. Let alone figure out how to dispose of them. It was clear I needed to quickly get my emotions in check because the situation wasn’t that serious. And it was then when I realized I would just pull out my miter saw, cut the posts into smaller pieces and throw them away in the weekly trash bin. Now! There I fixed the problem! As I notice when we don’t become distraught over things, solutions are plentiful.

PRAYER

Father God, keep us in your perfect peace at all times. Amen

Day Seven – Removing Clutter

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 1:5 NIV

Yesterday, I learned that sometimes we keep things out of guilt even if we do not have space available for that thing and or associated feelings. As a result, we put ourselves in all sorts of uncomfortable positions because we do not want to hurt others. And, honestly, it’s hard to apply appropriate decorum to gifts and situations when the fear of hurting someone is present. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, give us your wisdom on how to handle matters that tug at the heart. Amen

Day Six – Removing Clutter

September 19, 2023

I’m on a roll! Yesterday, I forced myself to get going! I had a date with destiny! I took those men’s shoes and Southpole sporting vests to the Denver Rescue Mission. The guy that took the items was amazed that I was donating new items. I explained to him that I felt God wanted me to give them to people less fortunate than myself. Then he quoted Luke 6:38, “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.” Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, prepare our hearts for the goodness of the Lord. Amen

Day Five – Removing Clutter

September 18, 2023

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV

I tell yah! I’m getting the hang of removing clutter! For months, weeks and days, I’ve been after my son concerning his stuff stored at my home. Well! He finally came back to Colorado to visit his children. And, yesterday, he stopped by to visit and go through his things. He had several large totes and a few backpacks stuffed with paperwork. As he was sorting through his belongings he was sweating and claiming my house was too hot. I felt fine. The temperature in my home was spot on for me! But! It wasn’t for him. He was the person doing the work clearing his clutter.

I learned from this moment that sometimes we crowd our lives with other people’s baggage, even when we don’t have space available. And if we don’t insist that they take their physical and emotional baggage with them it becomes ours, whether we want it or not, whether we can handle it or not. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, help us to know when and how to help others. Amen

Day 4 – Removing Clutter

September 17, 2023

Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?
Zechariah 4:10

OMG! Removing clutter has been a growth moment for me and about me! It’s apparent as I try to move about the abundance of stuff, I find myself getting extremely tired. I’m taking breaks often and sometimes never returning to the clutter until a day or so later. As a result, I’m always telling myself I’ve gotten lazy. But! That’s not true! Because today I realized I had lost the ability to accept small victories; therefore, the overflowing of blessings feel and have felt overwhelming! Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, you are truly a man of your word. You have blessed me and others with “good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over.” Then life happens, Lord. Your blessings begin to feel overwhelming to many of us; therefore, I ask that you rejuvenate our giving spirits. Letting us become blessings to others based upon what we can afford to truly give. Amen

Day Three – Removing Clutter

Friday, September 15, 2023

Failures and fears are the part of the journey we call life. Don’t let them stop you or derail you from your chose path.
Debasish Mridha

Well! Happy Friday! Yesterday, I was busy with other matters. It seems finding those spiders the other day [dead and alive] temporarily derailed me from my journey of decluttering. However the tasks I did accomplish were just as draining; yet, finding solutions to what seem to be unsolvable problems was emotionally freeing. So, I venture to write, I did work on removing clutter from my life but this time it was mental clutter. And! I say, emotional clutter is worse to manage than material clutter on any given day. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, keep us on task to free our wonderful lives from things that steal our joy. Amen

Day One – Removing Clutter

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
Psalm 40:2 NIV

I’d been standing in the same section of stuff trying to make unwanted unsure decisions because I know clutter is a sign of indecisiveness. And procrastination only keeps people in the dark holes of life. So! To make a small difference in my life I grabbed four boxes of men’s shoes that went unsold. I placed them on an empty bin and stood there paralyzed. It was clear I wasn’t ready to make a chain of choices since how to get rid of the shoes made me perplexed. However, the one thing I understood and understand is that change is needed if I want to get back in the game of life. Therefore, I need to be equally kind to myself as I have and always am with others. So I give myself permission on this decluttering journey to take 15 minutes for private meltdowns. In doing so, making small life changing choices when it comes to clearing physical clutter may come a bit easier. Mainly, because I’ve given myself a face and told my soul I matter too. And should you find yourself in the same boat as me, I give you permission to be kind to yourself for charity truly starts at home. Blessing to you and yours from me and mine. Let’s pray!

PRAYER

Father God, lift our souls from the depths of despair. Amen