Junk in the Trunk

True confession: I am a pack rat.

Shirt doesn't fit? Could be a cute gift for someone.

Tissue paper from a gift? Might recycle that.

Memento from a fun day? Might scrapbook that.

Cute gift idea? I should try that.

Fun decor article in a magazine? I might do that.

Scraps of paper? I could use those.

The problem is that with all of these shoulda, coulda, woulda's I'm amassing more stuff that I simply don't need. Moving overseas, gave me the perfect opportunity to clean house and get a fresh start. However, I just brought all of my junk with me.

Soon, I'll be moving back home and God once again is giving me the great opportunity to get rid of the junk in my trunk. I figured when I "randomly" listened to 3 podcasts in one day about ridding yourself of worldly possessions, that He just might be speaking to me. Then there was the stark reality of paying thousands of dollars to move the same stuff I came with back across the ocean. So as my roommate brilliantly outlined for me, why pay money to move your old stuff back overseas, when you can get rid of your stuff here and use the money you'd pay on shipping to pay for brand new stuff.

Hmmm, she's got a point there.

So, I'm slowly and painfully reminding myself with each book, shirt, and trinket that goes in the garbage or in the sell/giveaway pile, that God is freeing me to open my hand. As I loosen my grip, I grow in freedom and it gets easier to let things go. I'm also freeing myself to receive more of what God has for me. It's not just cleaning house for the sake of cleaning house. It's getting rid of what I don't need, to make room for the good God has for me!