We’re moving next week.

And we’ve made the conscious decision to get rid of some of our “stuff” in the process.

Over the past 22 years of marriage, we’ve accumulated a lot of items.  Furniture, picture frames, decorations, old toys.  

So we decided to have a moving sale.

We worked on it for weeks…making careful decisions about what to sell and what value it had.

There were melancholy moments, too.  Memories from past vacations, family gatherings and milestone events were uncovered in the process.

But something interesting happened on the day of the sale.  The value we placed on our things weren’t always what others were willing to pay.  

The bicycles that our boys used to explore the neighborhood brought 1/4 of what we hadoriginally priced them.  The sleeper sofa that had been used by visiting family or kids’ sleepovers? $30. 

In fact- just about everything we placed in the sale was met with a negociation.  

It was a great reminder that we can place too much value on “stuff” in our lives.  The kitchen table that hosted the first meals of our three children was invaluable to us, but only brought a bargain price in the eyes of others. 

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2

We need to invest in items that really matter.  

Relationships. 

Interactions with other people. 

Engaging in the lives of our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. 

And devoting energy into our pursuit of following Jesus.

If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26

This week I want to focus less on things that don’t add value to my life or the life of others. I want to rid myself of the clutter that keeps me from focusing on relationships and following Jesus. I’m praying about this. 

And please let me know how I may pray for you.

God bless.