So my husband and I have been preparing to have a garage sale this week. This is the first one we have had in nine years. As you can imagine we have gathered a lot of stuff over the years.
The impetus for the sale was when our garage became partially filled with stuff that isn't even ours. Our neighbor sold his home and moved to a smaller place a couple of weeks ago. It seems that all the items that he couldn't store at his new place moved into our garage.
So we starting looking around at the things we have shoved into storage over the years and realized we have way too much stuff. And that got me thinking.
My first thought was 'Wow, we have really been blessed.' And we have been and continue to be. God has been gracious and generous with us. We have never lacked anything. And for that I am constantly grateful and humbled.
My second thought was 'Wow, look at all the money we spent.' Seriously. We pretty much have everything our daughter has owned for the first five years of her life. All the clothes, all the equipment, everything. And we also have an amazing array of other flotsam. There is probably more than $10,000 worth of stuff in the garage right now. And even if every last item sold we would only have about $1,000 to show for it. UPDATE: We brought in just under $2,000 from the garage sale. From what I have been told, that is a big deal. Told ya I had a LOT of stuff.
This led me to my third thought, "Wow, what a waste.' Now granted there are many baby related items we truly did need (or at least relied heavily upon); but there is also so much stuff that we thought was super cool at the time be bought it, that now is in the junk category. It was a rather disheartening feeling that came over me. What gives?
And as often happens in my reflective moments, clarity came to me through the Word of God.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, 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
It is interesting that my husband has been having the same thoughts. The garage sale has made very real to us the Biblical truth that stuff is fleeting and that things cannot bring satisfaction. The only satisfaction in life can be found in a living relationship with the Living God. Everything else is headed for a garage sale.
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Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers
I agree! It's so easy to get caught up in stuff!! And there are lots of things that are very nice to have and are a blessing even though they aren't a need. There are also lots of things that we use at a certain season in life and then no longer need. I find myself often going back and forth between "stuff" and a more simplistic style.
ReplyDeleteGarage sales are a great place to find things that you need for a while, but not forever too. I loved garage saleing when my kids were little. My sister-in-law just got a really great Exosaucer for my baby niece at a garage sale this spring. It's cool to think of how you have blessed others by selling your stuff, plus making extra $ for you.
Blessings on your week!
From a purely financial aspect I really have learned that where possible I need to buy used. My daughter is starting piano lessons in the fall and we just bought a small upright, and used, piano for a very small amount of money. Retail it could have cost a thousand or more.
ReplyDeleteI have also learned that I really do not need so much stuff. Frankly some of it just comes with living long enough. But some of it certainly came from impulse buying and window shopping.