Today I’d like to bring up the reminder that we can often end up, for a variety of reasons, with too many material possessions. This may not be a problem for you but for the majority of Americans it is. (Hence the booming storage unit business, professional organizers/declutterers, and books on organizing/decluttering). Many of us wear 20% of the clothes we own 80% of the time, keep things that are broken that may or may not be fixable, find parting with objects we no longer need but paid a lot for almost impossible, (not to mention the items we feel we’d get in trouble for if the giver knew we parted with it), and the list just goes on. As I work on my decluttering–due to my lifelong difficulty with either getting rid of things or just procrastinating on making the decisions involved in doing so–I’ve learned something valuable. If you focus on how letting go of this excess stuff will be a blessing to someone else then it becomes a form of alms-giving. So, consider giving some of your excess away and be a blessing to someone else this Lent (and year round!). Prayerfully think of what others’ needs are, keep what you truly love/need, and then be as generous as you possibly can.
There are all kinds of places that will accept your donations; some will even come to you. There are your traditional thrift stores–some of whom will come to you–as well as freecycle.org, craigslist.org, etc. Even specialty items can be of great help, particularly with new or gently used ones: off the top of my head crisis pregnancy centers accept a variety of items to help those in need prepare for a child they hadn’t planned on having. And last but not least, what about cleaning out your cabinets and making a donation to your local food pantry? Also, some schools have a weekend backpack program where you assist in providing various items to help kids who don’t have enough to eat at home (although some prefer monetary donations only in order to finance their buying quality food in bulk).
Whatever the case, we don’t have to keep living with Too Much Stuff. There are so many out there who lack the basics and/or could use some of your non-used or less-liked items to provide for them. Don’t donate worn out stuff; be picky. If you wouldn’t wear/use it, trash it. But if it’s taking up space that you could use for other things–or that glorious breathing space that so many homes lack these days–send it packing and let someone else know that Someone is looking out for their needs and wants just like you know He is yours.
Easter is on its way!
Be You Very Well 