Letting Go

I’m venturing to guess that many of you have heard of the book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Condo. The book that tells you to pick up items around your house, stare at them and determine if they bring you joy. If they do, keep them…if they don’t, throw them out.

Yeaaahh, I haven’t read that book yet. Maybe someday. The truth of the matter is that sometimes I have a hard time letting go of things. Therefore, I don’t want some stranger telling me what I should and should not keep.

However, when you’re preparing for a baby due in just a few weeks and you need money, your views start to change. The nesting creeps in and you look around your house and think, “My Lanta, when on earth did I accumulate all of this?! It’s GOT. TO. GO.”

I just saved myself from having to read that book anytime soon. Ha!

Nesting and sorting through things in the house has been a breeze. We’ve gotten rid of a LOT of clutter and it feels amazing! We’ve gone through almost every room in the house and meticulously sorted through all of our belongings, ridding ourselves of many of them. It’s been easy and fun and a relief to see it all go.

But then I hit another mental road block this morning. There’s lots of clutter outside of the house too. It’s mostly vehicles. We really like vehicles around here. My husband and I usually have at least two vehicles each. They’re nothing fancy. They’re paid for. And their ours. So, what’s the harm, right?

Except there is some harm right now. Money is tight and growing tighter by the second. Our bills were 3 times what they normally are this month because of unexpected expenses. We made it, by the skin of our teeth…but you know what would make it even easier?

Me letting go of a vehicle that I never drive. Me letting go of something that isn’t practical. Me letting go of something that I only keep because it’s sentimental.

But it’s my first truck. My first baby. I’ve had it since I was 16. It is 29 years old and in amazing condition for its age. People stop and ask me if it’s for sale a lot and I always say no.

But maybe it’s time to stop saying no. Maybe it’s time to let go. And maybe God is trying to teach me that things are just…things.

I love my truck, but it doesn’t fit into our lifestyle. I won’t take the kids in it because the back seat is not carseat-safe. I won’t drive it very far because it gets really bad gas mileage. It also needs some money and maintenance put into it to keep it in such good condition. So I literally never drive it.

This morning we cleaned it out in preparation for selling it, maybe. If I can let it go. If I can stop wrestling with myself. If I can put aside my selfishness and do it. I think I can. Maybe. Hopefully before I go into existential crisis mode and starting overthinking about the 100s of other things in my life I’m selfish about. Ha!

But seriously, maybe God is trying to teach me a lesson here. I want to be willing to learn.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21