Purge Your Possessions

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out.   1Timothy 6:6-7

Contentment.

It’s surprising how very little material possessions are necessary for a content life.  In fact, if the truth be told, there seems to be greater contentment when material possessions are minimized… on purpose!

Last summer, a friend of mine began to heavily purge her entire home.  It took her several months, but she was persistent.  She kept showing up at my house with trunk-loads of things she thought I might want.  I did my best to be selective of what I accepted because I didn’t want her excess to start piling up in my house.

By November, I felt like I was suffocating of possession overload in my house.  I’m not sure how much of her cast-offs contributed to my sense of being thoroughly overwhelmed, but I’m sure they played a part.  I’m the kind of person who takes great pleasure in getting rid of things on a regular basis.  Every summer and winter I get an urge to get rid of excessive possessions and do a deep clean of my house.  So I don’t often have “too much stuff”.  For some reason, last November felt different.  I felt like my house was piled up to my ears.

When we took a two-week break from homeschool in December, I committed myself to the most intense possession purge I’d ever attempted.  Although it was thoroughly exhausting physically and mentally, it was freeing in a really huge way!  I was surprised at how much I learned about myself and how many life lessons I encountered throughout this process.

Summer is just around the corner, an opportune time for most people to commit to a whole-house possession purge.  Here are some tips that I recommend:

1.  Determine your goals.  Why are you purging your possessions?  To what extent do you plan to purge?

2.  Attack one room at a time.  Don’t touch any other rooms until you have fully conquered the current room where you’re working. 

3.  Use receptacles for items to be donated, items to be thrown in the trash, and items in question.  Items in question would include things that you initially think about donating, but then have second thoughts.  This category ought to be VERY small.  For the most part, you should make yourself be decisive about what you will keep and what will get the fling.  These items can be collected in a box and parked somewhere out of sight for a period of time to see if you really miss them.  If not, they can be donated, too.

4.  Be honest with yourself about the value of your possessions.  How many bottles of lotion do you really need at one time?  Can you donate some to your local food bank?  How many pairs of shoes are really necessary?  Is there someone in your community who could use them more than you?  Do you really enjoy or have time to dust all those little knickknacks?  Do they really improve the look of the room?  Less “stuff” cluttering a room gives a cleaner, more beautiful look, I promise!

5.  Clean the room really good from top to bottom, from corner to corner (after purging, of course).  Repair little things that you’ve been ignoring as you go.  By the time you finish a room, every possession and every square inch should have been touched by you.  This might take a few days, depending on how many possession you have packed into each room and how much dust/grime has accumulated.  Don’t get discouraged.  The reward of your accomplishment is worth every bit of energy you put into it.

6.  Donate items that could be used by someone else, perhaps to your local thrift shop, homeless shelter, or food bank.  Our food bank receives clothing and household goods.  I was shocked that I had five van-loads of donations at the end of my whole-house purge!

7.  Plan ahead for your family’s meals.  This kind of home purge takes much time and energy.  If you decide ahead of time how you are going to handle the feeding of your family, it will make your experience more smooth and enjoyable. 

I was surprised by the number of people who asked me why I was getting rid of so many things.  A few people seemed to be offended by it!  Don’t let others discourage you.  Always keep in mind that you brought nothing into this world, and you will take nothing out of it.  Keep in mind that there is great gain when you add contentment to a godly lifestyle.  Think about the gross excess of material possessions in our society.  Think about the time you’ll save on cleaning days when you don’t have to clean, dust, or maintain something that you don’t really value.  Think about the freedom you will have from “stuff”.

Ask yourself, do I want my possessions to possess me?

When you are finished, do yourself a favor and make a household rule: One item in, one item out.  For every non-consumable item that enters your house, one must go out.

Are you ready for the challenge?  If you accept, please tell me your story!  For indeed, it will be a story to tell!