By Rae Lynn DeAngelis
Although the town where my husband and I live is somewhat rural, we have many neighbors. Some are human. Most are not.
It’s not unusual for us to see birds, squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks, foxes, and deer. Deer are a common sight walking across our manicured yard. Sometimes they stop to eat our plants; other times they nap on our lawn. Our landscape has become nature’s bed and breakfast.
One thing I’ve noticed after living close to nature all these years is the balance of give and take among God’s creation. While it can be frustrating to see my lovely flowers become an afternoon snack for Bambi and his mom, I have grown to appreciate that the deer don’t eat everything; they only nibble here and there. It’s as if they are mindful to leave behind enough vegetation for the next family passing through.
Perhaps we could learn a lot from our furry friends.
After my mom’s recent passing, my siblings and I spent a good portion of time cleaning out her condo in Florida. Through that process, I’ve become acutely aware of just how much “stuff” we as humans have. (Not only more than we need, but quite possibly more than we could ever use.)
Mom was full of wisdom and imparted it to her children. I remember her saying, “Waste not—want not,” which was a gentle reminder not to waste what you have or want more than you need.
She was also frugal. And I mean—VERY FRUGAL. When we were kids, she saved things like bread bags and reused them for packing school lunches or slipping over our gym shoes to keep our feet dry in the snow. We weren’t poor, but Mom grew up with a family of seven during World War II, and as a result, she learned to be thrifty.
Although she wasted nothing, she also had a hard time letting go of things. Not in a hoarding kind of way, but in a “what if I need that later” kind of way.
As we sorted through Mom’s personal belongings, each of us found things we wanted to keep because they held special significance. Among a few other things, I wanted Mom’s feather pillows and coffee cup. I knew she used them every day. Somehow, they made me feel close to her, even though she is gone.
Many of us have emotional attachments to “things” because we connect them to a memory or because we perceive they have monetary value. It can be hard to let go.
However, through the “cleaning out” process of Mom’s condo, I was hit with a fresh understanding that we brought nothing into this world and we will take nothing with us when we go. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1:21).
We each took a few mementos, things that held special meaning for us, but, honestly, the majority of Mom’s items were sorted into two piles—things to donate and things to throw away. The biggest pile by far was the donation pile. We took it to Habitat for Humanity. It made us feel good to know others would find use for her things.
“Do not store up for yourselvestreasures 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).
Mom was truly generous. She tithed regularly and donated to missions, ministries, and causes she believed in throughout her life. It seemed only fitting that most of Mom’s “things” would go to charity to help others after she passed. I’m thankful for the lessons Mom has taught me. She knew what was most important. It’s not about what we gain in life that matters; it’s about what we give away.
Friends, we can’t take it with us when we go, so we might as well share it with others while we are still here. As we enter this season of thanksgiving, let’s be ever mindful to take only what we need and then share the overflow with others, much like our four-legged neighbors passing through.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).
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