It happens to me every year. The weather starts to get really nice outside and, quite suddenly and without warning, everything inside the house seems sort of dusty, overstuffed…claustrophobic. This past weekend, I stepped one foot inside my closet and felt it might suck me in and bury me alive if I didn’t clean it out right then. So, large box of garden trashbags in hand, I took my chances and parked myself in there. I could have easily been mistaken for a whirling dervish (I love that phrase – always wanted to use it in a sentence).
I was the only one home that day, so I stood there in nothing but my unmentionables (called that here, because this is a family-friendly blog and those items should remain unmentionable), so I could easily try things on as I went. They either were allowed to stay, went in a Good Will pile, a trash pile or a pile to take for alterations. It took me the better part of the day, but I went through every item, vacuumed way back behind everything (I’m always astounded by how dusty a closet can get – even when it’s shut off from the rest of the house), and when I was done, took a full, deep breath of satisfaction. It was no longer suffocating, but light and freeing.
Try as I might to keep a regular check on the “stuff” in my life, it can still accumulate to the point of becoming cloying. Shutting it off in an effort to conceal the mess does me no favors. I inevitably still find myself in need of a deep clean – stripping down to just my heart and laying open my mind to the Master Cleaner and Organizer who will sort through them both to see what is good and needs to stay, what is best thrown away or given over to someone better suited, and finally, what needs to be altered. His light shown into the darkest recesses obliterates the build up of dust and grime and allows me that deep, unencumbered breath of freedom.
Do our closets need to be cleaned today? More, do our hearts…our minds? I know Someone who will do it for free, because the price has already been paid.
Disclaimer: In case you are wondering (as a couple of you have, aloud), this is NOT a picture of my closet. Sigh. It is what my closet would look like in a Utopian society…or if some owner of a closet company called me to be their traveling spokesperson in exchange for a free closet design. You think I’m kidding? Try me!
Congrats on your clean closet, Melinda 🙂 Great analogy to the cleaning our hearts and minds need, too. Blessings to you this weekend!
Is that a pic of your closet? Because Hello Oprah! SWEET!
How in the world is this my first time to your blog???
Love this post.
Love that Patty won the giveaway!
Love your writing.
Love your humor.
Blessings, friend!
Dori
Okay…you’ve given me that itch to do the same sort of cleaning out!!! Yikes…it could hurt. 🙂 BUT, I need to do this BAD!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend. 🙂
love
steph.
Ahh, so much in my life needs a good cleaning — including the closets.
And if this is your closet…. I LOVE it and if it’s not … I LOVE it.
Is that your closet? LUCKY!
I need to work on all three…my closet, my heart, my mind.
Thanks for the reminder!
Sheryl
Please pray for my son, he is going thru a difficult time. I would really appreciate the prayers.
Nancy in North Carolina
Great analogy…and something I need to do this next week.
It is such a great feeling once its done.
I absolutely love that closet! Yes, I was wondering why it needed cleaning…picture perfect!
Your post is so on the money! Cleaning away the dust and layers of clutter are so necessary in our lives. Thank you so much bringing it to light with such a great parallel!
Oh my goodness, my closets need that kind of cleaning. I have put it off way too long. Maybe soon.
I try very diligently to make sure I ask the Lord to keep the closets of my mind cleaned out. It is amazing what kind of junk will accumulate there if you are not diligent about keeping your mind clean.
Leah
I love nothing more than cleaning out my closet. I actually do it more often than should be aloud! Happy Weekend to you, sweet Melinda. Be looking in the mail! 🙂
Lindsee
Melinda…I just did the EXACT same thing and I am so thankful for my beautifully arranged and organized closet and praying it will "stay that way!" Oh I can hope! I also marvelled how it could get so dusty in there…
You are a blessing!
Jan
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