Bless Others with What I Have
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:13).
Introduction
Own less, live more, is a new goal for many families. What motivates you to hold onto the stuff in your life? Is it fear of offending someone? Is it “I may need it…” “I spent so much money on that …” Or is it fear that if you let something go, you will also lose the memory? There are as many excuses to hold onto things as there are for letting them go.
Decorations
Use items you have on hand and make vignettes around the room. A stack of books with silk flowers, cups and saucers, Knick knacks, items that we hold onto, and aren’t sure why.
Activities
- Have your group (families and friends can be invited to the event as well) host a free NO BUY flea market. Invite the community to visit and be able to take items they can use. Whatever is left over can be given to your thrift store or be offered on social media. Remember, nothing comes back home.
- Sort your items that meet specific interest or needs.
- Craft items, consider donating to a nursing home or school.
- Canning supplies, donate to a 4H group or other interest groups.
- Unused tools, donate to a local vocational school or wood working, mechanic, or gardening club (depending on the tools to be offered).
- Old towels and blankets can be donated to the local animal shelter.
- Books can be donated to a nursing homes, senior centers or created into decorations.
Letting Go
I know people who have so many things that they rent space for the extra. You may be one of them, no shame here, just a suggestion of how much better it would be for you to let things go. What would you do with the extra money you aren’t spending on the unit? What about the people you can bless by letting things go? Some of us may not have a separate storage unit, but we have a basement or a garage full of stuff that you will go “someday.” Guilty! There just isn’t a perfect day to go through it all. But think of the creative things you could do with that empty space.
Have you considered owning less? What if letting go of something fulfills a need or provides joy to the recipient? Would you be more willing to let it go?
I love watching cleaning motivation videos on YouTube. Sometimes, I am motivated to clean, but recently I have found decluttering videos. Hold an item, consider the space the item takes, how much time does it take to maintain it (you know, the dusting), is it worth holding onto or is it time to let it go. But how, how do I let items go? What if I needed it later, but then again when was the last time I used it? What if I regret getting rid of it? The best answer to any of these questions is that by letting items go, I can bless someone else. The way to get rid of items is to set a goal, before I bring something home, something must go.
Letting go allows us to receive. If you hold your hand in a fist, hold it tight, it’s not possible to accept anything in that hand. Now if your hand is open, it can be filled. Think for just a minute about something that was given to you, and it blessed you. How did you feel? How much more do you think the feeling will be for you when you are able to share that blessing with someone else?
As a former preschool teacher, I collected a lot of stuff. Shamefully I still collect a lot of stuff thinking it will be good for a program someday. But as I get older and think about what others will have to do with my stuff, I have a stronger and stronger desire to let it go. What is the purpose of collecting so many things? Besides being pickier about the things I want to hold onto, I want to also consider what it is I am filling my mind with. I want to let go of the negative talk either from outside or from my own personal talk. I saw a video recently that woman shared about negative things that were shared about her. She simply told her friend that what was said was not ok, but she does not have to have those thoughts take up residency in her mind. What a concept! What if we combined the importance of space in our homes as well as our mind and pray that God will help us to let go of what is in our way.
Here are a couple of verses to help us in the process of decluttering our minds:
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 ESV).
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phil. 4:8 ESV).
Your future self will thank you! | 10 New Decluttering Tips!
https://youtu.be/X3Gqz3UDuAE?si=T5jHtMl4Hpl1n1Ly
Why you must not keep extra stuff | Is clutter hurting your faith?
https://youtu.be/-rpZurwIjXA?si=SHP4ZJ8irm89NN-O
8 Ways living an organized Llfe is a lot like your walk with Jesus — Rock this Revival
https://rockthis.org/organization/eight-ways-being-organized-is-like-lovin-jesus
