One of the things that really keeps me motivated with removing clutter and simplifying our things is to imagine the blessing that they will be to others.
This morning, one of those little moments of blessing entered my life to remind me how it is a good thing that I am motivated to declutter my home. It happened right after church during that time of socializing when one service has just ended and another is about to begin.
Earlier in the week, I had given some clothing to a friend. I had dropped a couple of sizes due to stress and wanted to find the clothing a good home. My friend brought the extras to church. I was tempted to put them back into my closet with the thought that I could somehow belt them or wear them anyway (I have very little clothing left), but that thought was quickly chased away when I met someone new who happened to work at a crisis center. With bag in hand, we chatted. Women’s clothing was much needed at the center, and she was happy to take it off of my hands.
The clothing had been hanging in my closet as clutter for the last year.
Because I tend to get attached to things, de-cluttering isn’t always easy for me, despite my tendency to toss. What helps is knowing that the items will be blessing someone else far more than they are me at the moment. So while I may want to keep some baby clothes for sentimental reasons, there may be a mom out there who really needs those clothes. A want versus a need, and it isn’t hard to see who has the better claim on the stuff, even if I owned it first (or at least previously).
This is the motivation that works for me.