Christian Devotionals and Scripture Applied to Everyday Life

Some things must be kept! Whether or not you are a purger or a packrat, there are certain items that just shouldn't be discarded. I am a purger. I regularly go through my belongings and get rid of things. It is not that I love to throw perfectly good items away, but those who know me best understand that I don't think well when surrounded by clutter. My mind can't seem to focus when overwhelmed with stuff that doesn't have a place.

Split-second decisions often cause unpleasant consequences. We found this out the hard way recently. Over Thanksgiving our family made a trip to Chicago to visit Aunt Catherine and Uncle Jesse. On the way there we drove on an Illinois Toll Road. Approaching the toll booth, we weaved our way through the traffic and slid into one of the lanes to pay. As we inched our way forward, we suddenly realized that there was no one in the booth. In the midst of the traffic lines, we had chosen the wrong lane - the one where people with prepaid cards were able to slip through quickly.

God is in the business of changing things. He can take what is ugly and transform it into something beautiful and useful! Everything was quiet when I stepped into our event center to take a peek at the items being sold at our auction last week. I love this peaceful time because I can stroll up and down the aisles examining the interesting items that are selling without being interrupted. I am never disappointed as there is always something that catches my fancy.

It has been an interesting experience living on a backcountry road. I love it here, and I especially love our neighbors. With only ten houses scattered along the scenic road, we have formed a tight knit group that watches out for each other. We have had some interesting happenings here over the years – from car accidents, to house fires, to young lovers parking and watching our gorgeous sunset sink beyond the trees. And who could forget the summer Chuck the Duck made his home in the creek by the bridge.

The gnawing raked my insides as the pressure of being late for work clashed with my concern over the lost puppy. I had gotten up early and let Cherokee and Emily’s puppy, Leila, outside to stretch their legs and have a morning run. That was only 30 minutes before and now Cherokee was resting quietly by the barn, but Leila was nowhere to be seen.

Many people resist change. I am one of those people! Twelve years ago a friend helped me decorate the dining room, and to this day I have not updated a thing. I mean, if you are comfortable with the status quo, then why rearrange things? But not all change is bad - some change is for the better. For our family, like it or not, this has been a year of "new." You children are growing older and leaving for college. The house is quieter at times (and it stays a little neater). 🙂 We moved our company from one location to another and had to organize a new office. Soon each of you will be getting married and starting your own home. Though at first all this "newness" felt a little scary and uncertain, I have come to realize that when you say goodbye to old things there is always a hello to other new and exciting things.