Lately I’ve been cleaning out my house.
Hauling down from the attic old toys and baby items that have seen better days.
Ridding our closets of items we haven’t worn in years.
Clearing shelves of books and dishes once lovingly read and used but now no longer needed.
Cleaning the playroom of old and broken toys to make room for new ones.
Moving is a great time to reassess which items are most important and which ones no longer have a place in our lives.
As we transition to a new home in a new state, it’s also a perfect opportunity to reflect on the good times we experienced here in our current home and also analyze those difficult times and how we would do things differently.
- As I discard plastic plates and toddler dinnerware, I am reminded of the many spills and accidents that have occurred around our dinner table over the past 5 years. In the future, I want to be less reactive to those accidents and spills. I want to exude grace to my children when they mess up (and I’m not just talking about at the dinner table). When my kids make a mistake, I want them to feel free to come to me instead of lying about it or hiding it from me. I don’t want my children to feel shame; instead I want them to feel mercy and love.
- As I sort through old infant toys, I am reminded of those hard baby years. The years with little sleep and even less appreciation and acknowledgement from others. But I don’t want to stay there – in my pity party of reminiscing. I want to see, to truly see, what my children are becoming. How they are growing. And, as Proverbs 22:6 suggests, I want to raise them so they become who they are meant to be.
- As I clean out our closets, donating and throwing away clothing that no longer fits or is no longer in style, I think about old habits I’ve been trying to squeeze back into. Angry reactions over little things. Pride because, of course, I think my way is always the best way. Fear over what the future will look like for our children as we move them once again. Instead of adorning myself in these sins (because let’s call it what it is), I want to clothe myself in dignity. I want to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) so that I’m read to combat the enemy of my soul.
As we begin packing boxes to move our family forward on this journey, I want to fill my heart with grace and mercy. Love and dignity. The truth of God’s Word.
And I want these reminders of the past to help bring change for our future.
What do you need to discard today?
Thank you for the reminder! My teen has been testing my patience a little lately and I should pray for her more and judge her a little less.
As a mom of a teen, I can totally relate!
I have two spaces on my list for this summer: my book cases and my closets. And so . . .as I sort and discard, I also want to throw out the idea that I need to hang on to things in order to be enough myself.