When Spring cleaning season arrived this year I decided that it was time to get rid of mor
e than just a Winter's worth of dust and dirt. I decided that it was the time to get rid o
f years worth of accumulated stuff as well. This stuff was lining my walls, filling my she
lves, and crowding my closets.This stuff was cluttering my home and my mind and not bringi
ng me one bit of happiness. I couldn't even remember how I got some of it, but I knew I wa
nted it gone.It turned out to be an even bigger job than I thought. Twenty-year-old bills
and receipts were tossed in the trash. File cabinets were cleaned of papers that were no l
onger necessary or needed.Broken bowls, dented pans, and cracked knickknacks were finally
thrown away. Unworn clothes were hauled out of the closet and bagged up to be given away t
o the local Goodwill.Old books were boxed up to be passed on for others to read and enjoy.
It took several days to get it all done, but in the end, I was able to walk through a hom
e that seemed a little less cluttered. My heart was a lot lighter too. It felt so good to
be able to get rid of all the junk and to just focus on the essential stuff in life again.
What is the essential stuff? What is the stuff that brings meaning to our days? A loving h
eart is essential. A joyful spirit is essential. A soul full of goodness and God is essent
ial.And a life full of sharing all of these things is absolutely essential. The essential
stuff can't be bought, sold, or stored. It can only be chosen, created, and given away. Th
e essential stuff is the stuff we all really want. It is the stuff we all really need.