Freedom

Boy, oh boy have I been blessed in the past 24 hours! Let me tell you the story...

As many of you probably know I have A LOT of clothes-- too many really-- and my closet was really starting to show it. Actually, my whole room was starting to show it! And I certainly couldn't see all I had, which is NO good for sure.

One day I mentioned this dilemma to my bestie and she offered to come over to help me out. I was beyond thrilled!! Not only is she a fashionista but she is also an amazing organizer. And well, we have been friends for over 20 years so she knows me pretty well and to be honest the thought of going through every article of my clothing, deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, then putting it all back into my closet was just more than I could handle...

So last night, after being at work all day, my bestie came over and we conquered my mountain! We started with sweaters and ended with swimsuits... 12 bags were filled to give away... 3 bags of trash were taken to the garage... and now not only can you see the bottom of my closet but the clothes in it as well. It was hard! There were moments I wasn't sure either of us was going to make it out alive. She pushed me to get rid of things I had had in my closet for forever. She helped me see HOW much stuff I really had and how much stuff I really DIDN'T need. No girl needs 12 black sweaters that is for sure!

And if all of this help from my bestie was not blessing enough, this morning my aunt knocked on my bedroom door and offered to take all 12 bags to Goodwill for me! So we loaded up her trunk and backseat and off she went...

Now, there are still little piles of things I need to go through and a few things that need to be organized and straightened in my closet. But overall things are looking great. I can see the floor of my closet and all the things that are in it. It is wonderful!!

After everyone was gone and I was sitting in my room looking at all the work we had accomplished it struck me: Liz and Sharon helped me removed some of my grave clothes just like when Lazarus was raised from the dead and Jesus called the folks around him to take off his grave clothes. All the years of clothes and stuff I had been holding onto were holding me back from really enjoying what I had: lots of nice, new clothes. I wanted to tackle this mountain, I just couldn't do it on my own... I needed the help of others. And I have to admit, it was hard to ask for help and then to receive it. There were plenty of times last night I was ready to give up, but Liz was there pushing me forward, reminding me I didn't need whatever it was I was trying to keep and unwrapping my grave clothes, slowly but surely. And this morning I was dreading piling up all those bags, loading them into my car and taking them away. It wasn't that it was hard, it just was final. But there was Sharon willing to take my load for me. What a blessing!

This morning not only does my room and closet look totally different than they did yesterday morning but I am free from all the stuff I had been storing up. And so sweetly reminded that the only way to fully walk in life is to have others come around and help you take off your grave clothes!