By Nancy Virden (c)2024

I did not realize how much mostly useless stuff I was holding on to until two incidents revealed the issue:

1. My teenagers said, “Mom, when you die we are going to have to go through all this stuff.” Fresh off dealing with the estates of my mother and in-laws, they knew how much work went into cleaning out a house. As one who enjoys doing crafts with children, and was leading a community program for kids at the time, my basement was full of could -use-them-someday supplies. From costumes to boxes of global oddities to wood crafts and more, half of my basement was overloaded. You see, my mom worked with kids too and I had inherited her someday collections. Immediately after realizing what a bind I was putting my kids in, purging of the somedays began. This was in the early 2000s.
2. I was moving to Pennsylvania from Ohio. Interested in emptying the house, I started to give things away. One such item was a doll house my grandfather built. Good intentions to remodel it had failed to realize so I offered it to a friend. I recall having mixed emotions until she teared up and confessed that she had never had a doll house in foster care, had always wanted one, and her daughter was of the age to play with it. Then it was easy to see it go. This happened in 2009.

These experiences created a purger out of me. Still collecting things, I would donate them mostly out of misguided guilt. A third incident finally knocked out my so-called “need” to own too much stuff. Back in Ohio, I was selling my home and moving into a shared residence. Space would be greatly reduced. One night in prayer, an insight came in so strongly and quickly that I knew it was from God. Suddenly, all the sentimental and material goods connected with being in that house where I raised my children became temporary and unimportant. This happened in November 2021.

Since then, living simply (not much stuff, recycling what I can reuse, and occasionally purging), has become my aim. You can see it took 15 years to change. Today I dislike adding purposeless things to my space. Extras are donated, and since one day I will pass on, my sons will be happier to let me go without a boatload of somedays to empty.

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

1 1 Corinthians 7:30-31

 Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions.  Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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