Packing up

It is time to pack and unpack. Have you ever moved? Some people never move. They spend a lifetime in the same place. It is strange to pack up everything you own and put it on a truck and take it to a new place. Sometimes when you get to the new place your things don't fit. It forces you to choose what you really love and either part with the rest or pay for a storage unit.

For the last five years we have had a storage unit. Seven and a half years ago our daughter moved out to get married. We kept a few things for her. We have gathered things, items we felt important enough at the time that they were given a place in our lives. Now we are moving only not changing addresses but seasons in life. Our son just moved to his first Apartment. The dog died three summers ago so now there are no extra feet at our house. No one extra to check on, to clean up after, to encourage, laugh with, cry with. Sometimes it is the extra stuff that brings us great joy. I talk with my daughter everyday in some form or another. I talk with my grandchildren several times a week. I talk with my Mom almost everyday. Now we Skype with our son and he has learned to like the phone. We must stay connected, it is simply not enough to intend to we must take action.

There are so many things that we can gather. The greatest of which is love. God gives us such amazing love. You hear a lot about "empty nest". This is a term that I am not fond of . Our home is not empty all the love and blessings that surrounded us all these years is still here. We will not pack it up and put it in storage. We will now have the opportunity to choose to invite others into our home to love them to serve them. The treasure of life is relationship and that should never go to storage.

We recently cleaned out our storage unit and we no longer have one. Whew....that was a great feeling. There has been a lot of shifting going on. Sometimes God shifts us just a little he always has a good reason although we do not always take it well.

The storage was full of decorations and coats. We do not use many coats in Florida but we keep them just in case. You may not have a crisis everyday and you may not feel like you need people but you never know and it is a really good idea to build good relationships for the winter. When we are hurting it is love that warms us.

I have a lot of holiday decorations some for home and some for the Air Force base. It is always exciting to me to see peoples' faces when you decorate. They get that little kid grin and act silly. They start talking about growing up and what the season means. I wonder how many of us carry our Bible as a decoration. It is the manual you know. All the answers are in there. We must seek God's word to guide us.

This week I have been giving things away. It is time, time to let go of things that no longer serve a purpose in my life. This will allow me to let new things in. I have been a mother for 28 years. I will not stop being a mother, I will just stop making the morning rounds. Now prayer takes on a whole new meaning. There is no seeing there is only faith. This is not a new concept to me it just takes on a deeper meaning. I have had to use this idea for my daughter and her family. For my parents. Now for my son.

We packed up his things and took them to his new apartment. His old room is now a music room for my husband. All the kids slept in that room at one time or another. So very fitting that the music of love will continue to echo from the walls.

I will have time to pursue some hobbies long forgotten. Time to spend writing and studying. My husband Paul and I are enjoying the time to visit and re-create our space and lives. It is a time of celebration.

It is true that I probably kept too many things for that much needed moment that never arrived. Possibly I put too many things on hold while I was enthralled with the journey of our family. These are all matters of opinion.

As I continue to sort it all out and go through all the emotions that this change has brought to us. There are so many things that I am excited about. Paul will now have his own place to play his beloved music and this brings such joy to his soul. Don't get me wrong I was not happy to see our children leave because they were a problem I was happy because we did it. We guided and released, by the grace of God. This is what God asked of us. Such a joy to my soul the memories that flood my heart.

Life is meant to be lived. We cannot not store people. We must treasure those that God places in our lives. Release with love those that are not intended to stay. But never pack them up as if they do not matter. Every person that crosses our path serves a purpose.

So in this new season some people and things did not make the journey. I will not dwell upon the absence but rather rejoice in what is to come.

My son is cooking every day for himself and managing his own place. This brings me joy. My daughter is getting her children ready for school she shares the moments with me and this brings me joy.

Don't pack up your joy...keep it out on the counter in easy reach.