Purge

Just before Shorty and I got married, we bought a "cute" little fixer upper. It was just over 1,000 square feet and had too many issues to recount here. Within the first six years of our marriage we added all four members of our Crew, and so we were six-- in just over 1,000 square feet. Because of our limited space, I regularly threw things away. And I taught the older three to throw and give things away as well. It was just necessary.

But a little over two years ago, we were able to buy a house that is just under 2,000 square feet. I've been able to stop playing the sort and throw away game. And I hadn't made any of the Crew throw much of anything away... until last week. Our youngest was only six when we moved, and she really doesn't remember the sometimes painful process of purging. I've told her that if she's going to keep something, she has to find it a home. But she is a collector (read that "pack rat") at heart, and her stuff has overflown its homes. We emptied every drawer and shelf. We sorted every piece of paper. We examined every item on the tops of her furniture. We pulled things out that had hidden under dressers. And we threw things away. There were several times during this process that Little Bit was nearly in tears. I could see on her face when I asked why she wanted to keep a particular item that she was wrestling with keeping it "just because". It was a rather traumatic experience for her.

You might be wondering why I put her through that process when I could have just given her another box or folder or whatever. The question was not nearly so much about space as about responsibility. The question was what was best for her. She is a bit flighty. Her attention span is somewhat short and easily interrupted. So keeping her stuff in homes was overwhelming for her. Also, she was placing her happiness and sense of security in her piles. So I made her purge.

Dear Christian, our Father loves us much more than I love my Little Bit. Not only does He want what is best for us, He KNOWS what is best for us. And He is faithful to remove things from us when they are not best. It is painful. It is hard. But it is for our good. Trust your Father. Let go of the "stuff" and embrace Him.

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:5-11