While I do not believe I am a hoarder, I do tend to hold on a bit too long, to some things. An example I will share is something I found inside a wardrobe box I recently unpacked. This robe is a robe I bought when Terry and I were dating in 1997. I always wanted a silky robe, and this was all I could afford. I bought it at Victoria’s Secret, and back then, it was a pretty big splurge for me.
Because I spent that much money, I held on to it, for years. 24 years, to be exact. The color blocking is a bit odd, I admit. If it were all purple, or even purple and hot pink; it would be fine. The green thrown in, is a bit much. But, they had something that fit me, in my (sort of) budget.
Terry looked at it and asked me, “Did you get it on clearance?” I told him, “It was all I could afford back then, and the silkiest thing I could find on my budget! And it was before I met Lauren!” Terry, “And you didn’t think putting it back on the rack was a better idea than buying that thing? Lauren is looking down right now whispering, “Burn that thing, Aimee. Burn it!”
Lauren is my precious friend who was a costume designer in Los Angeles who went to be with Jesus almost two years ago. Lauren was always there to help me with wardrobe questions. She helped me pick out my wedding dress when Terry and I eloped; she made me donate a pair of gladiator sandals I bought, and she would always respond to my texts from dressing rooms about, “Should I purchase this?” questions.
I know the colors are wild, but I have never been able to let it go, because I paid so much money for it, so long ago. Terry said, “I think you got your money’s worth, after all this time.”
The robe was a reminder for me to let things go. Like splurge-purchases we later regret, but can’t let go of them; past hurts tend to be stuck in our emotional closets, too, and we need to release them from our grips. Our faith grows when we let go.
“But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” - Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)
Sometimes when my brain goes to idle, I will let myself think about the cruelty of others, or toxic behavior that was so nasty. Those thoughts become even uglier than the purple, pink and green robe. And there is no reason for me to hoard them, or cling to them. Unlike the robe, those nasty memories were cheap, not expensive. They’re easy to toss and kick out of our minds, because nothing good comes from holding on to past hurts.
I love the reminder in Isaiah. “Forget all that. It is nothing compared to what I am going to do.”
As we slowly let go of the bad memories, we see what God has already begun in our hearts. He makes pathways through the wilderness. He creates rivers in the dry wasteland.
This must be why Paul reminded us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” - Philippians 4:6-8 (NLT)
If we hoard anything, let it be thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise!
And I’m letting the robe go. Perhaps someone else can enjoy the soft, luxurious feeling. And maybe whoever gets it, won’t see the colors.