Storage

We have been cleaning out my dad's place for several days...and yesterday we had to tackle the storage cages in the bottom basement of the parking lot. He lived in a high rise and the only place for additional storage for all the units was tucked away deep in the gullies of the garage. There were two of then...and thought the accumulative cages were protected by a locked door leading from the garage, the dust was inches high. What was I thinking when I wore a white t-shirt...my sister was smart and had come in dark work out clothes. We went through all the stuff item by item, box by box and there were a few things worth salvaging but most were items that needed to be tossed.

We do not have a storage unit...but we do have an attic....a place where we keep things that we "might" need for a later time or things the "I" think my children might want when they get older, or items that we only need for special occasions and that take up too much room in house. But in reality when things are in storage we forget about them...we forget what we put in those boxes...out of sight out of mind deal. And by the time we get back to them, they have lost their original appeal and we have held onto them for naught. The dust was seriously nasty...it was black and covered everything especially the outside of cardboard boxes.....but we had a job to do and that was to clean it out...not just the clutter of it all but rid it all...so that the space would be available for the next occupant.

Going through this stuff made me realize that there is a lot that I am holding onto that I too need to get rid of. And I am not just talking about physical, dust laden boxes....and forgotten items that once had a significant or sentimental value. I hold onto words that people have said or things that people have done...and they are many times not the favorable ones. I pack them away....and then revisit the dusty remembrances that were hurtful or painful at the time. But why is that? Why would I want to hang on to something that really had no significant value in the first place and surely has none now. I don't know about you but I do hang onto "stuff"....and that is just what it is "stuff"!

Matthew 6:19-20 Treasures in Heaven
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

If I asked Jesus to come into my heart and do a clean sweep of the stored memories that were worthless and had no lasting value...he would gladly begin the task...it might take him a while because there are memories stored upon memories...that have managed to gather built up grime. But how great would it be to only have those things in mind storage that are worthy...that are excellent....that do give us joy upon reflection. Reminders of a tradition, and lives and loves and relationships.

Get rid of the rubbish...and save the good stuff. We tossed and tossed ..there was even a pair of old tires...and as the pickup truck was finally loaded and overflowing...I couldn't help but go back to the cage and think...this is a new beginning for someone else...the remands of the former owner's belongings have been removed. Maybe that is where God wants us to be...cleaned out and ready for new beginnings...let go of the old stuff and move forward to a new chapter. To be transformed from the dirty grimy place where we have stored things that really have no lasting value and be filed with His thoughts and ways that do.

I am home most of today to reorganize and toss some of the stored things that I have allowed to accumulate. The things that I thought my kids would want they don't. My dated things just don't fit into the style of today ....and I need to quit hanging onto things that are just gathering dust! I am thinking it might be time to relook at what I am storing away in the cages of my heart and mind? And do some cleaning up of my own! And as I try to clean out...I will also ask Jesus to come along side of me and help me to clean out and toss out the rubbish in my mind that has no place in his home.

And just as a side note...as I was looking up verses for this devotional ...it occurred to me that God has storage of his own...for his children...that maintains its value through all eternity! Brings me up a notch from my earthly thinking ...wouldn't you say?
2 Timothy 4:8
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Dear Lord, There is only one real lasting thing of value that each of us has... and that is our knowledge and relationship with you....Help me to keep that clearly on my heart and mind....and not store up things and ways and thoughts that have no relevance to your ways...and your will. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!