"What are you doing?" my husband asked. "Are you coming to bed soon? You've been on the computer all night."
"And all day too. I'm making room on my hard drives. They are both full. I deleted 4,000 emails today. Now, I'm deleting duplicate picture files. My camera is 10 megapixels and the files are large. Also, there are a lot of video files from Shine and Phoebe..."
"Okay, Honey. It's fine. Don't explain. I'll see you in the morning."
I had 600 somethings on my computer. My computer friends told me that my computer has enough space that I will never fill it. Hah! Little do they know!
Clutter in my Life
"And all day too. I'm making room on my hard drives. They are both full. I deleted 4,000 emails today. Now, I'm deleting duplicate picture files. My camera is 10 megapixels and the files are large. Also, there are a lot of video files from Shine and Phoebe..."
"Okay, Honey. It's fine. Don't explain. I'll see you in the morning."
I had 600 somethings on my computer. My computer friends told me that my computer has enough space that I will never fill it. Hah! Little do they know!
Clutter in my Life
I can fill anything--an empty drawer, an empty bookcase, an empty room, and an empty hard drive. I create piles of papers and books wherever I go. If I walk into a room, I will leave behind a pile of books.
But, filling up my hard drives was a wake-up call to me. I have a problem with clutter. There is clutter in my homeschool room and clutter in my computer. I might join a support group.
"Hi, I'm Meredith Curtis and I'm a pack rat. I hate to get rid of anything because one day I just might need it. How do other people live without collecting piles of things?"
There is just one thing to do. I told my husband that I need to buy a computer with a bigger hard drive and we need to buy a bigger house. He's not buying it. He suggested a family project. My family is not thrilled about the Curtis De-Clutter Adventure.
My problem runs deeper than filling up space. This is a problem that only God can handle. I need wisdom from Heaven on what to keep, what to give away, and what to throw away. There are many things that I should hold on to or I will just need to spend money to replace them in a few months. Homeschooling requires many books, file folders, and computer files.
My Plan for Clutter
But, filling up my hard drives was a wake-up call to me. I have a problem with clutter. There is clutter in my homeschool room and clutter in my computer. I might join a support group.
"Hi, I'm Meredith Curtis and I'm a pack rat. I hate to get rid of anything because one day I just might need it. How do other people live without collecting piles of things?"
There is just one thing to do. I told my husband that I need to buy a computer with a bigger hard drive and we need to buy a bigger house. He's not buying it. He suggested a family project. My family is not thrilled about the Curtis De-Clutter Adventure.
My problem runs deeper than filling up space. This is a problem that only God can handle. I need wisdom from Heaven on what to keep, what to give away, and what to throw away. There are many things that I should hold on to or I will just need to spend money to replace them in a few months. Homeschooling requires many books, file folders, and computer files.
My Plan for Clutter
August's project is de-cluttering. Here is my plan.
When this is over, I hope to enjoy a clutter-free house, for at least a day! I expect to have to repeat this process again in the future. After all, this isn't the first time, but this time, I hope to get rid of all lot more stuff than ever before.
Clutter in my Heart
You see, I realize that clutter begins in my heart. I let things pile up in my heart too. Little resentments, hurt feelings, or relational issues that need to be dealt with. I put off things that God is telling me to do because I don't have time. I fill my calendar because I feel obligated to do so many things. I used to be able to "Do It All!" in my younger days. Now, I need sleep or I get grumpy. I need down time or I feel frazzled inside. I need peace and quiet occasionally or I feel weary in my heart.
God wants me to sort through the piles in my heart so that I am clutter-free inside.
"In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work," (II Timothy 2:20-21 NIV).
Homeschooling is a noble task, a ministry unto the Lord, a good work that God has prepared for me to walk in. I want to be useful to the Lord in my homeschooling, prepared to teach what is good. As I clear away the clutter in my home and heart, my prayer is that Jesus will fill my heart and home with His Presence and that my family and I will make ourselves at Home in Him!
How about you? Are you like me? Is it time to do some de-cluttering?
If you would like more practical encouragement in managing your home, there is an entire section on home management in Joyful and Successful Homeschooling available on Amazon. The E-book is available on PayHip. Another resource is a Bible study, Jesus, Fill My Heart and Home available at Amazon. The E-book is available at PayHip.
Be blessed....every day....in every way!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
- Start with a day of fasting, prayer, seeking God, and crying out for wisdom.
- Examine my heart. Get rid of clutter in my heart and spiritual life.
- Get rid of duplicates that I don't need: computer files, books, textbooks, papers, recipe cards, DVDs, music books, purses, totes, serving dishes, appliances, clothing items, calendars, CDs, furniture, and decorative items..
- Use the 3-Tote System to give away, throw away, and put away where they belong.
- Fill the Give-Away Tote--ask myself, "Could someone else be using this?"
- Fill the Throw-Away Tote--ask myself, "Why on earth am I holding on to this?"
- Fill the Put-Away Tote--ask myself, "Why is this here? Where should this go?"
- Do a room a day with children's help.
- Have children do their own rooms.
- Keep praying through the entire process, asking God for wisdom and strength to do the right thing.
When this is over, I hope to enjoy a clutter-free house, for at least a day! I expect to have to repeat this process again in the future. After all, this isn't the first time, but this time, I hope to get rid of all lot more stuff than ever before.
Clutter in my Heart
You see, I realize that clutter begins in my heart. I let things pile up in my heart too. Little resentments, hurt feelings, or relational issues that need to be dealt with. I put off things that God is telling me to do because I don't have time. I fill my calendar because I feel obligated to do so many things. I used to be able to "Do It All!" in my younger days. Now, I need sleep or I get grumpy. I need down time or I feel frazzled inside. I need peace and quiet occasionally or I feel weary in my heart.
God wants me to sort through the piles in my heart so that I am clutter-free inside.
"In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work," (II Timothy 2:20-21 NIV).
Homeschooling is a noble task, a ministry unto the Lord, a good work that God has prepared for me to walk in. I want to be useful to the Lord in my homeschooling, prepared to teach what is good. As I clear away the clutter in my home and heart, my prayer is that Jesus will fill my heart and home with His Presence and that my family and I will make ourselves at Home in Him!
How about you? Are you like me? Is it time to do some de-cluttering?
If you would like more practical encouragement in managing your home, there is an entire section on home management in Joyful and Successful Homeschooling available on Amazon. The E-book is available on PayHip. Another resource is a Bible study, Jesus, Fill My Heart and Home available at Amazon. The E-book is available at PayHip.
Be blessed....every day....in every way!
Merey (Meredith Ludwig Curtis)
RSS Feed
