“Christ in You, the hope of Glory.” Colossians 1:27
Our family first moved to Windsor Drive when I was in the 7th grade. It was the home that helped me re-enter American life after spending all my childhood in Rhodesia. (Zimbabwe)
My grandmother, well-named Grandarling, lived in Windsor House when she needed a new nest. She welcomed all three of my sisters to live with her at some point during their college years.
Mom and Dad moved back in to live with and care for her. As a nurse, Mom took care of both Grandarling and dad before they stepped into heaven.
These last few weeks, I’ve been helping my mom downsize for her next nest. You know how this goes for any move:
First, you get rid of the obvious.
Next come the things that no longer have useful value but have tender strings attached to your heart.
Lastly, you curate the boxes that haven’t been opened in a looong while. And that’s where you find life you have forgotten about or didn’t have a clue to.
Through it all, you laugh hard at what has been saved, filed, kept for “future use.” You tear up and remember the joy, a pain, a lesson, a season. You curiously wonder “why did we keep this?”
All through these weeks of looking, listening, learning, I am reminded that life has treasures, joy, pain, and hope and they can surprise, teach and disappoint.
My mom, dad, and Grandarling have lived well and I’ve touched much of the evidence of that proves this.
Spiritual application for me is simple: Loving God and loving others is what lasts. Christ in me the hope of glory. I must decrease so He can increase. To get there, I’m pondering the work of spiritual downsizing.
- Obvious clutter are things I ignore that should have long ago been discarded. It’s that touchy attitude, a selfish demand, an unkind look that has lingered. Some of the obvious is so clear to me but I walk past it and choose to ‘deal with it later.’
- Tender heartstrings are attached to realities that need some pruning. My pride, my impressions, my laziness, my resistance, my need to confess the hurt I keep remembering.
- Those places of the packed away, pushed down, ignored, forgotten or simply didn’t know about is etched into my story. Without recognizing it, I miss what is best because I have kept these things hidden. Usually someone else helps me uncover or open up that box.
Here’s the Good News. We have a Never Giving Up God who is always ready to awaken us into His restoring ways. Nothing is hidden or packed away in His presence. The Holy Spirit can open our eyes, reveal truth, strengthen us to let go of the grip we have on our past!
As I have enjoyed the treasures of Windsor Drive, I’ve wondered what my children will find in my stuff that will point to the adventure, the pain, the truth of walking with Jesus in every season. These are the things that will last.
Join me in downsizing. May we be willing to let God’s Spirit clean out the clutter, remove the excess, speak the Truth so we can live well today and for tomorrow.
Cindy Gaskins