July 30, 2025 – Clutter
I used to like to have company over for a visit and for overnight stays; I still do, but my house has gotten so cluttered that the last minute straightening tends to leave me with a bigger mess as I stash things in places that I tend to forget about later. I even used to apologize to the bug man vowing that it will be different the next time he comes to spray, but I’m pretty much over that. Just step over and around my stuff. I’ve tried to at least keep my front entrance and living room picked up, but that doesn’t last long before things pile up again. Indecision and procrastination.
I used to partly blame my cluttered house on my children, but they have grown up and moved out. Yes, some of the clutter is theirs, but it’s because I can’t bear to part with most of it reasoning that they will want it someday (likely not) or that the grandchildren will enjoy playing with things. They do for the most part, but I think they are overwhelmed by how much is in the playroom. I had planned to do what my grandmother did when I was little and let the grandchildren take things home when they asked, but each time they’ve asked, I’ve balked. Play with it here. I did let some new sippy cups go one time, but it wasn’t easy.
A friend text’d this morning saying she would be in the area after a doctor’s appointment and wanted to stop by to catch up. I paused my devotion time to do some of the tidying I should have done way before now; but, I was relieved when she called and we decided to instead meet out somewhere. I enticed her with pointing out that today is farmer’s market day near where she was.
Streams – “Give what you have, for you never know – to someone else it may be better than you can even dare think. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow” My house or a restaurant. Either would have been fine (even with the clutter). She just wanted my time.
I could run through and easily straighten up anyone else’s house, but my piles just stagnate. I worked for an organizer for a while years ago and loved bringing order out of other peoples’ clutter, but I don’t want help with mine. I know it’s weighing me down. I’ve prayed about it many times through the years and I have even sent before and after photos of spots in the house to my children only to eventually realize the spots are back to the before.
Power – “Little faith can become great faith as you use it more often….As your faith develops and grows, your problems will have less power over you and you’ll worry less.” I want the clutter to have less power over me. I need to start speaking positively over my ability to pare down our things and simplify how we live (honestly that could even include paring down the amount of organizing books I have!) I need to believe and profess that I can tackle these piles. Many of my devotions these last months have pointed out the importance of the words we speak over ourselves and our experiences.
JC – “Even before you knew Me personally, you responded to My creation with wonder.” God wants us to enjoy and care for His creation and what He provides for us. My clutter seems very wasteful at times. “Declare My glorious Being to the world.” Blog!
Prevail 211 is entitled, “Look Around and Be Amazed” which is often what believers do when they view God’s creation! But it also applies to how he gets individuals and nations through tough seasons even when we think God isn’t aware of how bad things are. “Unbeknownst to Habakkuk, God was already working….God’s plan is already in motion before His people even know to ask for it.” It’s such a comfort to learn and lean into that reality. I believe God has a plan in motion to inspire my decluttering.
Utmost – “…if we love a human being and do not love God, we demand of him every perfection and every rectitude….we are demanding of a human being what he or she cannot give.” Much of our clutter is sentimental; so, maybe we need to not be so demanding of ourselves. Don says we are the keepers of the family stuff that no one else really wants. I’m getting a little better about letting go of more things. God is patient. “Our Lord’s confidence in God and in what His grace could do for any man was so perfect that He despaired of no one.” God gives us grace. We should do the same for others (and ourselves).
JA – “Beloved, My compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” Such a good example to try to follow in being tolerant with people (and organizations and countries etc) and their ways of doing things that don’t always match my ways and my thinking. It doesn’t mean to be a doormat though. There are consequences to our actions or inactions. God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the time and way we expect. “If you become weary of waiting, remember that I also wait….I hold back ‘til you’re ready to receive the things I have lovingly prepared for you.” Make me ready Lord!
