A Decluttered Life

I have been on a new mission...To declutter our home and declutter our lives.  Shhhh...don't tell.  The other 5 that live here may start to notice that things have disappeared and start rummaging through the trash.

First, our home...that part is pretty easy.  Especially if you have a type A daughter who loves to organize and throw things out.  Just mention the word simplify and she is all over it.  As a matter of fact, I might have to go through the trash.  So no room has been safe.  One room at a time, one space at a time, one drawer at a time, we have been throwing away or giving away.  You would think that as a military family we would have scaled down a long time ago.  We did!  But we are now entering our third year in one place, something that we have only done only once before in our military life, and well...stuff happens!  Stuff accumulates!  Stuff takes over!  I did mention to my dear husband that the easy answer was just to move, but for now that is a no go.  (I think he even rolled his eyes at me)  As hard of a task as it has been, for me, not ALP mind you, it is a good thing and one I encourage you to try.  After all,  just how many spatulas do you need, how many books have been read and should be passed on and how many items in your pantry have outlived their expiration dates? umm, just a few random examples, of course.

Second, our lives.  A slightly harder challenge.  I just read this written by Nancy Twigg, "...clutter is anything that complicates your life and stands in the way of simplicity."  hmmmm.... over-commitment,  kids' activities, spending, emotions...you fill in the blank. 

Nancy continues, "Clutter does more than affect us physically and emotionally; it affects us spiritually because it keeps us from following Jesus fully.  We simply cannot make room for Him when so many other things are in the way."  Ouch!

So despite all my effort to declutter the physical things from our home, maybe the priority should simply be to declutter my heart.  To have a heart for Him.  Not stuff.  Not schedules.  Not the things this world says are important.   And in doing so I will be able to spend less time on the craziness of this world and more time on the craziness of His love for us!

Sounds like a simple plan!

"Do no store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy...but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven..."  Matthew 6:20

"How priceless is your unfailing love, O God!" Psalm 36:7