My beautiful mother was, well, to put it nicely, a collector. She had dozens of hobbies, mountains of interests, and collected various objects for decades before God took her home to heaven. I remember how frustrated I found clutter to be when I was growing up and now endeavor to keep such infiltration of unwanted objects from collecting on tables, counters, and the top of the microwave. You can't blame me right? Clutter causes waste and keeps us from getting rid of the trash in our lives. But before you say "Amen, sister." I must give a bit of a confession. I have harbored such a great deal of prejudice towards clutter in my home that I overlooked how it seeped in to other areas of my life. Take a look at this list and see if you might have some of or similar issues with clutter. Phone Apps The day that I finally upgraded to a smartphone the world of amazing handy apps unfolded. I quickly cluttered up my phone with preschool learning, weather, facebook, KLOVE, and random games. Suddenly every time I answered a text I was also checking notifications from various apps and playing a quick game of match 3. Last night I snuggled on the couch to watch TV and realized that many of those useful apps were wasting valuable time in my life and needed to be thrown in the trash. Especially the games. Projects I believe I must have a distorted view of my own life and capabilities. Why else would I decide on taking so many projects all at one time? Right now I have mending, tomato plants that need planting, frames to fill with photos, and various other projects in boxes upstairs that make me cringe. Sometimes I never get to those projects and realize that I wasted time and money on something that was never going to happen. It reminds me that before I take on more I need to un-clutter those projects from my ever-growing to-do list. Housework Okay, I go through nasty little phases where I'm obsessed with ridiculous things like sideboard dust and ever-bleaching the microwave. They end up being the most stressful times in my life and I often have take a step back and really think about priorities. My little girls would benefit much more from story-time with a good book than a wired-mother armed with Windex who things that the digital numbers on the oven are not shiny enough. Bible Studies It sounds weird, I know, but often when I am going through a rough time I turn to a knew Bible study or devotional to help me to cope. Before I know it I have a stack of studies and devotionals to get through during my few "Quiet Times" with God. I race through the books and skim verses, eager to cross each off my list for the day but am more frazzled and less peaceful than before. I find I am more spiritually nourished when I set all but two Bible Studies or Devotionals to the side and really devote myself to spending time with God so I can listen to Him as I learn. TV Shows I use TV shows to unwind a lot. It is something my husband and I enjoy sharing. But we have to be careful. With Netflix and DVRs we can easily wind up with a dozen shows we "need" to watch and suddenly our evenings are gone with no real fruit to show for the time we committed to staring at the TV. This hurts a me great deal since evenings are my best writing times with the girls in bed. I know I would rather throw most my shows in the trash than to throw away a shot at my dreams. Are there areas of your life that need to be uncluttered? Are there things that are making you waste valuable resources? What is standing in the way of simply throwing them in the trash? The Bible says, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:34 Where are your treasures? “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
4 Comments
2/15/2016 01:26:27 pm
I'm right there with you girlfriend! Thanks for the reminder that clutter comes in many forms. One of mine is cluttering up my mind with so many things that distract from my calling. Even good stuff isn't as good as the best, so I keep asking God to show me the best for me and focus on that.
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Lora Armendariz
2/15/2016 01:44:58 pm
I love your fight, Diane. I know you will reach that goal. :)
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Erin Smith
2/15/2016 07:21:17 pm
I remember your mom's collections and that you better ask if you wanted to move anything! She always said I plan on working on that when I have the time. She was one of the most creative women I have ever met! I loved her projects.
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Lora Armendariz
2/15/2016 07:24:08 pm
oh! I love you too! I love it that you remember that about her. Goodness. I miss her.
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