Moving is Hard Work!

Jim and I have just moved, and it was hard work. We moved from a 5-bedroom house with 3 bathrooms to a 3-bedroom house with 2 bathrooms all within the same city. The old house had a huge walk-in attic and it was full. It also had a large shed and a two car garage with a storage room off of it. We now have a small attic, no shed and no storage room off of our garage. 

Downsizing seemed like a very logical thing to do at our age (and it was), but little did we know that it would be so difficult. Deciding what furniture to move and what to sell was the least of our worries. My biggest worry was trying to figure out how we ended up with so much stuff! I guess after 45 years of marriage most people have accumulated quite a bit, but what we were sorting through seemed excessive.

I learned some lessons during this process:

We all have too many possessions. I remembered a story Jim told me after he returned from doing mission work in India several years ago. He told of a family who had a tarp over their meager space out in the open – and that was their home. They didn’t complain, but seemed happy to have a covering over their heads. As I sorted and unpacked boxes of items I hadn’t used in years to determine if I needed to keep them, I felt ashamed that we had accumulated so many things. Those things had become a burden to me. They were unnecessary.

I remember Jesus talking about a young man we refer to as “the rich young ruler.” He was interested in obtaining eternal life. He knew the Law and had kept the commandments from his youth. However, he had accumulated many things and when Jesus told him to go and sell what he had and give to the poor, he “went away sorrowful because he had great possessions” (Matt. 19:16-22).

Happiness and contentment in life have nothing to do with the possessions you have. If I thought that the happiness and contentment Jim and I have in our marriage was based solely upon the “things” we possessed, I would be most miserable. Houses, cars, furniture, clothes, jewelry, and anything else you may have are worthless when it comes to happiness and contentment. Relationships are what really matter – with God, with your spouse, with your children, with your church family, and with others with whom you may come in contact.

Success in life is not measured by what you have accumulated. The world measures success by how much money you make and by how many things you are able to accumulate. Sometimes it takes years for us to learn that we are measuring our success in this life by those around whom we live. Hopefully, at some point we learn that God measures success by our faithful service to Him. When we live our lives being faithful Christians and remembering that our citizenship is in heaven and not on this earth, we are successful.

Houses and possessions are temporary. Thousands and sometimes millions of dollars are spent to build dwelling places and to fill those dwelling places with finery. Storms, fires, and floods can wipe all of that away in an instant. When we become so attached to earthly possessions, any disaster will devastate us. But when we realize that this world is not our home, we are just passing through and our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue, life here on earth becomes our temporary home.

Hard work is good for you. Jim and I (along with our children and many wonderful members of our church family) packed, toted, sorted, lifted, and moved what seemed like enough possessions for several families. Jim said often that he was looking forward to the day when he could just go somewhere without a box in his hands. We have made it to the smaller house, with fewer possessions, and more peace of mind. The work was hard, but so educational. I’m so grateful to God for what we have. He has blessed us beyond measure. I love the “lightness” I feel of having less to keep up with and clean. I’m grateful for all of the helping hands we had during this process. But I am most grateful for a loving heavenly Father who moves with us wherever we go.

“…I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”  Philippians 4:11

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