Downsizing = Unburdening

Downsizing equals unburdening ourselves from many things. At some point in our lives, we’ve probably all done this or we need to do this. As Hubby and I ponder life with most of our sons living within a few minutes or just a few hours rather than days away from us, we see no need for such a large home. They will come when it’s holiday time, stay with one another, or drive back to their homes at the end of the day.

Letting go of things is not easy.

I particularly have this problem with books. I love old books. As my eldest son says, “They aren’t printing those anymore.” So true. My oldest book is a second edition of Sir Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake, 1815. It was among my husband’s grandmother’s things, and it came to our home when his mother was about to give away tons of old books. Yes, I rescue old books. I have shelves full.

But, as we contemplate moving to a much smaller home, about half the size of this one, I know I need to let go of many possessions. No, not the oldest book. That will pass to my children one day. Are these possessions a blessing or are they merely baggage? A burden?

SPIRITUAL BAGGAGE

Then, there’s our spiritual baggage. What kinds of spiritual baggage do we cling to? Those things that interfere with our relationship with God?

I have a hard time forgetting confessed sin. The Bible tells us in at least three places, Isaiah 43:25, Jeremiah 31:34, and Hebrews 8:12, that God will be merciful and remember our sins no more. If God can forget them, why in the world do I choose to keep reminding myself of them? It seems a bit like I don’t quite trust that God has done this, doesn’t it? As I write this, I feel His hand of conviction upon me.

Do we hold onto grudges? Do we truly forgive those who have hurt us in some way? I know I held onto words spoken to me by a friend when I was a young teen. Our youth group gathered at a local church camp for a weekend retreat. On the way home, I told them I’d prayed and asked God into my heart. She promptly told me, that if I wasn’t a Christian, God had not heard my prayer. Well, I was young and naïve. What did I know? I cried all the way home.

Downsizing = Unburdened @DDuPreeWilliams #faith #Unburdened #Downsizing Share on X

GODLY ADVICE

My precious sister met me at the door when I got home and explained to me how wrong my friend was. For years, I carried around a big grudge, and to be honest, I didn’t like this person from that day forward. It has only been in recent years that I was able to lay that at the foot of the cross.

Baggage gone. Unburdened.

Another of my faults is I tend to be way too judgmental. Opinionated would be my husband’s word for it. God bless him, he always sees me without faults and flaws. Believe me, I have plenty of them. I’m blessed that his love for me sees beyond all those and that he knows my heart, even when the words coming from my mouth may not sound godly. He’s pretty quick to remind me of who I am in Christ. That always brings conviction and confession.

CONFESSION

The action word here is confession. The Bible also tells us in 1 John 1:9 ESV, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. What a promise.

Want to get rid of some spiritual baggage? Those things that are keeping you from the relationship you could have with your Savior? Take it to the cross and leave it there. Confess those things that are weighing you down. And, like Abba Father, remember them no more. (I’m preaching to myself here, y’all!)

Baggage gone. Unburdened.

Blessings, y’all!