Accumulations

When we decided to move two years ago, I was aware that I had kept for years unnecessary but sentimental items. What I finally learned about myself is what useful items I hang on to.

For example, consider blank envelopes. Useful, correct? All those odd ones that don’t seem to have a card with them, or the extras that came with boxes of Christmas cards. I save these, and I occasionally have a use for them. But I have over a hundred in plastic bags and boxes. Our daughter married almost 17 years ago, and I ordered envelopes in which to mail her homemade wedding invitations. But I first ordered some that were slightly too small, and I still have most of a box of those. I’m gradually using those as I sometimes make my own greeting cards. Then I think, Yes! So glad I saved these when we moved! 

And light bulbs. We have every size and shape you can imagine EXCEPT ones that we need for most of our light fixtures. In addition, in our former home, I put electric candles in each window at Christmas. I must have had a great fear that I would run out of replacement bulbs, because I ended up with over a dozen in a house that has no need for window candles. (Actually, I left the electric candles there for the new owners.) Now I have a lifetime supply of bulbs for the tiny nightlight in the hall by the guest room.

It happens that I love nice napkins. I love to use cloth napkins, every day if possible. (Since Steve now does the laundry, I’ve given up on some of that.) But I also love pretty paper napkins and tend to buy them when I find them on sale.

So some dear soul got a bonanza at our garage sale before we moved. For a mere two dollars, she bought an entire paper grocery sack full of unopened packages of paper napkins, from birthday to Cinco de Mayo, from Easter to Christmas. A treasure for her. I’m glad she can use them. (That doesn’t even cover those in opened packages!)

Now I’ve learned that when we have a few paper napkins left from a party, we just use them daily until they are gone. A couple of weeks ago, I bought a small package of napkins for an upcoming bridal shower. They were on sale, so I was very tempted to buy two packages. But I didn’t. I did buy a couple of other items that I have no need for, but they will make excellent gifts at some point. I hope.

Not to mention gift boxes! I really hated to give those up. I could always find just the right size box in which to wrap a gift, but I got rid of all of them. And now? Two years later, I notice that my storage room is again accumulating nice boxes to be used for gifts.

I’m really working on my affinity to accumulate. I don’t want to lay up earthly treasures. Even though these items were trivial, having a large amount of each of them was unnecessary. I hope I’m getting better about not laying up treasures on earth, but in heaven—those things that are not seen, but are the ones that really matter.

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:19-21