Usually in every marriage there is a pitcher and a saver; a thrower-outer and a keeper; a sober minded and a sentimental heart. I am the first in the list! I have a sentimental heart, but I also realize that I have a memory to recall that precious object to mind. I can take a picture and be just as happy with it as the real thing!
In my desire to unclutter my life and my house, I gave a heavy sigh at supper one night this week and said, “I wish I had a huge dumpster in the backyard so I could just throw a bunch of stuff away.” My husband shocked me with his reply: “The trailer is backed up to the basement door, you can put things in there and I’ll take it to the dump for you.” Shock, disbelief and utter amazement ran through my mind. Did my husband, the saver, the keeper, the sentiment really just say that? I lifted his right hand and said, “Repeat after me. I promise I won’t recapture anything my wife throws away.” (He said he had his toes crossed!) Oh well, I will definitely take him up on this offer. My basement – whole house for that matter – is going to get a combing through! What I don’t use is either getting set aside for my upcoming yard sale or it’s getting tossed into the trailer! I’ll keep you updated on my progress!
The very same day that this conversation occurred, I had also mentioned to my husband how wonderful it was to go to prayer that day. I had many burdens on my heart when I awoke and really felt heavy laden with all the cares. Ministry friends, my mom who’s dealing with a debilitating pain, my daughters, a friend who’s very sick…on and on the list went. I cried out to the Lord in my quiet time thanking Him that He was there to unload my burdens and carry them for me.
When I thought about throwing all my “stuff” into the trailer my mind went immediately to my prayer time. I had done the very same thing with my cares – I had tossed them out of my cluttered mind and heart and given them over to the Lord. And just as I made my husband promise not to reclaim anything that got tossed, it would be my responsibility to “raise my hand” and promise not to go retrieve them. Those needs must stay in the Lord’s hands for He alone can answer. He is the only One able to provide, intervene or sustain.
Oh, the blessing that comes to my life when I unclutter “stuff.” Far greater still is the blessing I receive when I unclutter my burdens in prayer every day. The Lord is always there at the door ready to receive it all and take it from me and do what only an almighty God can do!
Have you thrown your cares to Him today? He’s waiting to take them!
Under His feathers,
RefreshHer 
Denise what a wonderful blog. Pray I won't reclaim my clutter that I give to the Lord. I am bad about that and I have to ask forgiveness all the time. I am thankful that my Heavenly Father never runs out of forgiveness.
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amen Momma.
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What a wonderful illustration. This posting came on a day when I needed to be reminded of just that! I can not pray and give something to God and turn around and take it back, and then wonder why God had never answered. My song for this past month has been “He's Still Working On Me”. It may be a kids song but has been a blessing to me. Thanks for the posting.
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Thank you Denise for this. I am finding I need to throw out my clutter on a daily basis these days. I do admit it is hard to not go and retrieve it back, but with my focus being on God, I can do it.
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