Straight from a Purging Heart
By Lisa Elliott

 You know you're moving when:

• you get excited about garbage day.
• you know the shelf stockers at the grocery store on a first name basis.
• you find yourself making weekly trips to the nearest Thrift Store to deposit your goods. When you get there, they roll the red carpet out for you and you recognize it as what used to be—yours!
• you have everything you need, you just can't find any of it.
• Facebook Marketplace becomes your social hangout.

Yes. We are moving... again. Since the day we knew we were moving... again... I've been doing some serious, heavy-duty purging... again. Yes, I've definitely been-there-done-that. And, as a matter of fact, sold the T-shirt at the last garage sale I hosted.

We've moved five times in forty years as a result of my husband's call as a pastor. And that's not counting the moves we've made within a move. Not as many times as some. But more than some could bear.  Regardless, it never ceases to amaze me how much stuff is accumulated over time. So purging has become part of our moving ritual.

But let's face it. It's hard to purge and get rid of stuff. Especially stuff that means something to you or that you've had in your possession for a long period of time. Stuff that's become part of who you are.

It doesn't help that my tendency is to keep things that are sentimental. My poor old sentimental heart remembers every sentiment attached to every article, trinket, out-of-date item or no-longer-usable gift. The problem is, I can often picture the person who gave it to me on whatever occasion they gave it and what they were wearing that day! Thankfully, I learned to treasure memories in my heart when my 19-year-old son moved to his heavenly home. Memories often outlast the treasures.

This time round we decided to downsize even further. Let's call it deep cleansing, shall we? I began by having a garage sale. I set things on my front lawn where people bartered over precious belongings. I sold furniture for a small fraction of what I paid for it. I even said goodbye to my childhood player piano. Not only did I and all four of my children learn to play on it, but it held childhood memories of entertaining my public school friends on class field trips to my house. It was painful to watch it be loaded on a truck and rolled away. And get this, I gave it away for FREE! (Apparently, pianos are no longer hot commodities.)

Even so, the purging is not over yet. We will be leaving behind our beloved backyard swing. My kids bought it for me for Mother's Day twenty-five years ago. It holds memories unspeakable and conversations untold and has helped us process more of life's joys and heartaches than I can count.

I'll say it again, it is hard to let things go!

And, here's the thing, it's not simply tangible household possessions and artifacts that need to be purged and let go of. I'm talking about purging things that don't have a place in the next chapter of my life and certainly don't have a place in my heart. But, nonetheless, things I have held onto. Things such as bad attitudes I've accumulated, negative thoughts I've clung to or offences I've allowed to cling to me. Amazing how things buried deep in our hearts, hidden where nobody sees, rise to the surface as we purge our material stuff.

Sadly, there are some relationships that have gone toxic or worn out their welcome that have to be purged. Offences I've tucked away have to be removed. I've found that purging hurtful comments can be a process to toss and forget. Words have the power of life and death, as the Bible says. Therefore, one thing I will make sure I pack is a hefty load of forgiveness and carry it with me into my future.

I'm looking at this move of ours as an opportunity to rid myself of as many things as I can that could keep me from moving ahead in full health and strength as God would have it. Besides, there are certain things in my life that are just not meant to come with me.

After all, I'm heading for a fresh start. A clean slate. A new beginning.

One thing that has emerged as I've purged is that I don't want to miss all that God wants to give me because either I can't let go of the things I have a hold of or worse yet, things that have a hold of me. I can't embrace what God has to give me if I've got my hands full. Much less, my heart.

So, my prayer as I purge is from Psalm 51:10 (NIV), "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

Let the purging begin!

About this Contributor:

Lisa Elliott is an inspirational speaker and award-winning author of The Ben Ripple, Dancing in the Rain, and A Ministry Survival Guide. She’s also a writer for Just Between Us Magazine, theStory, and Good Ground. She and her pastor-husband, David, have four children (three on earth, one in heaven) and serve the Lord together in Ottawa, ON, Canada.