When I look at my house, I see a lot of ‘stuff’. Living in the same place for fifty years can do that to a person. We subtly collect stuff; buy just a little bit here and there and suddenly a room is so full, it’s a downright cluttered mess!
Because we never moved, we didn’t have to downsize to get everything into the transport truck. Add to this five children, each who have left a little (or stuff I’ve saved to give them someday!) has remained! Now with seventeen grandchildren who have loved to send (or give) us ‘stuff’ and all the Christmas gifts, it’s a lot!
HOLDING ON TO WHAT’S IMPORTANT
But God hasn’t called us to live for our possessions. He’s called us to take care of the ‘stuff’ that’s important, to steward whatever he’s entrusted to us today. As a widow, somehow that really hits home! How do I ‘manage’ all this ‘stuff’?
Widowhood has forced me to look at what’s important. All I have belongs to God. I can’t possibly preserve everything that’s been physically collected over the years. Yet there are items that when I pick up, I immediately bring close to my heart because they are the essence of who Charles was. His Marine Corps uniform is priceless; his Bible, the little love notes written long ago tucked in my jewelry box —these are pieces of him I will always cherish.
I EARNED MY ‘STUFF’–I CAN’T GET RID OF IT!
I had a dear friend for years who said, “I’ve earned all my stuff; and it’s mine! I don’t have to account to anyone for any of it!” This person isn’t alone in her way of thinking. Our culture has large bins and storage units to prove it!
But ‘stuff’ is more than just the material possessions we own. Sometimes we collect habits, expectations, routines, even hurts and fears we no longer need to carry. Our minds and lives are filled with these moments, one tiny piece at a time. Ridding ourselves of those which are harmful, can perhaps be even more difficult than cleaning out material possessions.
KEEPING CONTROL
It’s natural to want control. But when we realize our lives are a trust, not a possession, we can allow the pressure to ‘having so much stuff’ lessen. Letting go of our material goods frees our hearts to hold more tightly to God. It means we are trusting God to do something more with what we have, far are important than what sits in a storage bin, which we can’t even see!
FINDING FOCUS
Sometimes we complicate things, as we wait for God to give us a sign or some big moment we can cling to, to know what we need to do. He often starts with right where we are. For me, it’s time to let go of all the ‘stuff’ and focus more on what God really wants like faithfulness, acts of kindness, trust in hard seasons and obedience, even when no-one is watching—even if I don’t have it all figured out! What I’m willing to surrender, God is able to use far beyond what I can imagine!
It’s hard to ‘let go’ in seasons of heartbreak (and sometimes, even when we aren’t.) Our ‘stuff’ has a way of defining us, materially, mentally, and perhaps even spiritually, but it’s not supposed to. God wants us to trust him, because we aren’t created just to exist, especially alone.
CREATED TO MAKE AN IMPACT
We are created to make an impact—even in seasons of loss. Your story, voice, life and mine, is to be lived intentionally. As we move through our grief, we are given opportunities to love on others—and accept other’s love, to serve His people, and walk in joy that can only come from him.
Surviving Together In Loss And Love 
Leave a comment