Matthew 6:19-21
When the movie Frozen emerged, it became a worldwide phenomenon, winning countless awards and 2 Oscars. One was Disney's first Animated Feature Film Award Oscar for the song “Let It Go,” sung by Idina Menzel in the movie and played by the character Elsa. In my house of all boys, we went to the theatre to see it. I had the song fully memorized in no time! We owned the movies and sang along. (Of course, it helps that a few of us are a bit theatrical and music-oriented.) There was something about how Elsa stormed out of the castle and climbed that mountain in the cold of somewhere like Scandinavia—throwing off all hindrances of what she had hidden her whole life. Her identity. Her ability. Her gifts. Who she was. How she was created. She had been holding back and living in fear for so long. She hid in the castle's shadows, keeping everyone out, even her sister.
It is often true for people who have been through severe trauma as well; they can sometimes become hoarders, developing a form of extreme Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). They wall themselves in with things, stuff, and possessions. They will keep everyone else out, often rejecting help. They hurt those closest to them. If you’ve ever watched an episode of Hoarders, it is pretty depressing and sad. It makes me want to go clean right away.
For Elsa, though, eventually, through the help of Olaf, the snowman, Sven, and Kristoff, she discovers her powers only grow stronger through love and not through fear, and she can thaw everything.
1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear."
Isn’t that awesome? God is perfect love. His love casts out all fear. We have nothing to fear when we are close to him; what a wonderful thing to know. The enemy can make us think there are things to fear, though, especially if you have been through some severe trauma. He will use that against you. He will play fear, depression, doubt, anxiety- all those things over and over on you and weigh you down until the load is so heavy and so dark that you can’t lift your head or leave your bed. I know. I have been there. If you are at this point where it is this dark, I always recommend a licensed therapist be needed to help you along the way, and with God’s help, you will get through. Believe me, I know! Please reach out to a trusted friend or relative, someone you trust. Please understand you are not alone. Everyone struggles at some point with their mental health, and everyone has stress in their lives. It’s all around us in our society.
The enemy would love for us to think we are all alone, like Elsa, isolated, trapped. He knows if we are alone, we aren’t as strong as when we have each other to rely on. There is power in numbers! There is strength in corporate prayer and fellowship! Living as the “Frozen Chosen,” as we get called sometimes in Minnesota, where I live, can be challenging in the winter. It gets cold. We don’t want to go out. We don’t like to start our cars. It seems like it’s always dark! But it is so good for us!!! Our bodies NEED Vitamin D. They NEED fresh air!
Our emotions need a connection with others. So I hope you are getting out this year. I hope you are trying to get sunshine and connections with others. After our stint with the recent pandemic, I think we have all learned how miserable it can be to be in isolation. Elsa learned a valuable lesson about her treasure.
She was hoarding away her power instead of sharing it with the world for everyone to enjoy and have the ability to be loved and loved in return. The same goes for the verse found in Matthew 6: 19-21
“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.”
Too much stuff?
I always wonder if I have too much stuff when I read this verse. The answer is yes, of course I do. I’ve been to developing nations and know I have way more things than I need. Do I enjoy my stuff? Yes. I am fortunate and thankful. Do I sit there and have an attitude of greediness about things in my home? No. It would be hard if my house burned down tomorrow, but it’s just stuff. I can replace things. I can’t replace people and relationships. I believe it’s more about the attitude; when we start to get jealous that our neighbor just got that brand new _________, etc.
So what do we do to keep our hearts in check and ensure we are “storing” treasure in the right place for ourselves? One way is by letting go of things we don’t need! My husband and I own a civil engineering company in central Minnesota. Sometimes, we design storage lockers for developers. It's a nice little side income, especially for retirees! At the end of 2021, there were more than 50,000 storage facilities in the United States.
That’s not individual lockers. That’s buildings. I know there are a lot of individuals living in apartments or lower-income housing that probably use these lockers. Still, I know quite a large majority that have houses with full garages that also have storage lockers.
As a stager, I had two storage units to hold all my inventory and an indoor unit for breakable and soft items. Yup. Our country has a problem with having TOO MUCH STUFF. When it was time to end staging, as the market was changing and my body was giving out on me physically, I wondered what I was going to do with all this stuff. It was time to let it go.
“If your stuff isn’t serving you, it won’t be serving you any better packed away in a box somewhere.”
~ Melissa Camara Wilkins
Melissa Wilkins of Easy Organized Home says it clearly. Moving and shuffling our stuff around in boxes from one space into another, just hanging onto it, doesn’t do anything for us. It holds us down. It causes more weight mentally. It is a burden. The more we own, the more we are responsible for. When we let go of things physically, we release the weight. We are freeing ourselves of the burden that possessions put on us.
Now, there are limits to decluttering. In the past, I have been a decluttering queen. I have over-tossed items impulsively and regretted it later, only to have to go out and buy new ones. That is the problem with being an emotionally impulsive person. My husband has ridiculed me; he is the opposite, so we have had to find common ground. I have learned the art of decluttering, and I am here to share my learned knowledge with you so you don’t make the same mistakes I have! For the next few weeks, we will go through the rules for decluttering that I have learned along the way in depth. Hopefully, you know some of them, but I hope you learn new insights too!
Liz’s Rules for Decluttering…
Do I use it? This is the number one question of all time. In your closet, in your dinnerware, in your basement, in your garage!!!!!! Everywhere. You have no reason to keep it if you don't use it.
My church hosts a lavish ball for one of their annual ladies' events. Every year, ladies from the church can decorate and host a table and invite other ladies from within the church or community or family/friends to attend. It is a great time to bring the fine china, crystal, silverware, etc. We laugh, we dress up, we even sometimes wear costumes! I love this event, and I look forward to it every year. This is one way I make sure to use my china and crystal.
For the Holidays, even in my house of men, I make them sit down, dressed nicely, at a beautifully set table with linen napkins and napkin rings. I have taught them to place them on their laps. I have taught them what a charger is! (Yes, ladies. It can be done!) Didn’t we learn during lockdown when we couldn’t eat out how extraordinary our Holidays could be, seated around the table together? Again, I don’t want to get rid of these dishes. They have value to me. Many were wedding gifts. If I am going to keep them, I’m going to use them and create memories and conversations along the way. Another way I have used the fine china is to host a Christmas Tea with friends. A unique way to relax during the busy season, with no children, for just 2 hours of quiet conversation! Have you noticed a theme of relationship tied to the use of these items? Interesting, isn’t it? I truly believe things are meant to be used for fellowship and ultimately bring glory to God.
In doing so, we are storing up treasures in Heaven.