The Fit

One of the hardest questions for me to answer is, “where are you from?” I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas but didn’t live there long. I counted up once that I moved close to ten times between the time I was born and graduated from high school.

So I got good at packing. Putting my things into a box. Arranging things so that they would fit.

It’s kind of like a jigsaw puzzle. Looking at the size of things. Selecting just the right items. Moving and turning things around until they fit.

I recently set a goal for myself. A goal to clean out my storage unit. Storage units.  A place to store your things. Things that you still want but don’t have room for where you live.

My things were placed in this storage unit when I began the process of building a new home. It was an exciting time. About five years ago or so.

Things were packed. Taped shut. Then packed in the storage unit so they would fit.

But things changed.

Then my goal was born. To empty the storage unit by the end of the year.

I sorted my things. I sold things. I donated things. Some things were easy to give away. They didn’t fit my life any more. Some things were hard to give away. I wanted them to fit my life, but they didn’t.

I worked my way out of a large unit into a smaller one. What remained, fit.

In some ways it was freeing to not have so much stuff to fit into my life. In other ways it was very sad. Saying good bye, even to stuff, is hard.

Many of my friends knew this was a goal of mine. I have one dear friend who has provided much support. Actual physical muscle support, but also emotional muscle support. She has helped me answer the hard questions. Does this fit? Does this fit with your life now?

So she was the logical choice when it came time to make the last trip to the storage unit. I called her with short notice since it was supposed to rain this weekend. My goal was to have it empty before the New Year. She made time for me to fit into her schedule.

I warned her that it might not all fit into one trip. But it did! It fit perfectly! We were both amazed! We didn’t even have to rearrange or adjust. We just carried box after box and placed it in the car. It all fit!

“Devote yourselves to pray, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2 NIV

All through this process. I have prayed. I have prayed for strength, for help, for wisdom. Prayed that items would sell. Prayed that people would love and care for my things.

I have thanked God for the family of five who bought my kitchen table set. I have thanked God for my refrigerator selling for what I asked. And for the people who made it happen. I have thanked God continuously for my special friend’s support in moving the many, many boxes to my place.

But I didn’t realize until now. How watchful I had been as well.

I have watched as God as answered my prayers. I have watched as He has given me wisdom to answer the tough questions. I have watched as He has given me strength to move boxes in and out of my car. I have watched as He has directed me to people who can help and support me. Then I watched in amazement at how the last load fit perfectly.

The storage unit is empty. My goal is complete.

Part of me is excited and happy. Part of me is sad. The work is not done though. There are still boxes to sort through. Still things to figure out how they fit.

But I will continue to devote myself to prayer, being watchful and thankful for all that God is doing!

Dear Loving Lord, thank you for all the people who have supported me through this process with my storage unit. Thank you for blessing others with my things. Thank you for opening my eyes to see all that you have done for me. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.