Every thing Doesn’t Always Have Its Place.
. . . and every thing in its place was one of the proverbs that misled me, and confounded my housekeeping. It is not true. There is not a place for everything; nor can every thing have its own place.
Maybe that worked a hundred years ago when things were not widely affordable or available: when a pair of socks or a set of PJ’s was a big deal – when a few dresses, pairs of shoes and several changes of unmentionables fit in a small closet or wardrobe.
Culling possessions so that I can return to the simplicity my grandmother thought was abundant remains a daily chore. Where does all the stuff come from? I am always one shelf short or missing one junk drawer to be certain countertops are clear. Well, maybe one cabinet short.
In any household, junk accumulates to fill the space available for its storage. ~Boston’s Irreversible Law of Clutter
So clutter accentuates corners and counters I wish were vacant.
Clutter is found in so many shapes and sizes. We can find it on our kitchen tables, under our beds, in our cars, and in our heads. ~Katrina Mayer, KatrinaMayer.com (Emphasis added)
So, I scour second-hand shops for the perfect cabinet that will be the place for every thing that floats around placeless. But where oh where is the proper place for clutter in my head?
Before this year ends let me take some time to find the perfect place for the thoughts, memories, and desires that never seem to have a resting place.
- Am I worried about stuff?
- Am I sorry about things I have said or done, or avoided doing?
- Am I frustrated because what I want I can’t have?
- Am I angry?
Some days I can clean house – and have places to stow worry, shame, and frustration; anger is a little hard to hide. God takes every thing I hand over, and either tosses it as far as east is from west, or keeps it until a time is ripe for us to deal with things. ( Psalm 103:12-14; Isaiah 1:18)
Anger out of place can be a trickier problem. Ignoring anger, or stuffing it may work for a spell, but it can morph into a mess. Although losing my temper is not smart either.
Scripture gives me some guidance:
26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life. (Ephesians 4:26-27 The Message )
If I want a safe place for anger and the clutter it can create in my brain and heart, getting even gets me nowhere. Forgiving is what I can do; forgetting is also within my power. (If I don’t keep remembering, where I buried the hatchet, that is!) But God makes a better way to resolve anger and that is by going to the person – if I can – and talking to them.
Every thing doesn’t necessarily have its place – getting rid of things that aren’t useful or delightful is smart, especially in the golden years. Getting rid of emotional and mental clutter is better than trying to find a place for resentments, hurts, and hang-ups, every day if necessary.
Worry is wasting today’s time cluttering up tomorrow’s opportunities with yesterday’s troubles. ~Anonymous