Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)
My eighty-six-year-old mom decided the time had come to downsize from the seniors’ condo in which she lived. The facility she considered a good option to move into would provide her with a small apartment that included a sitting room, an ensuite bedroom, and a tiny kitchen.
Mom had downsized twelve years prior to move into her current residence. The thought of doing it again seemed overwhelming, so we tackled it together. We sorted clothes, dishes, books, and furniture. When feeling hesitant about a specific item, she’d remember the size of the apartment and its limited space. That helped her decide whether she truly wanted or needed it.
Mom gave a few treasured pieces to me and my siblings and her grandchildren. She donated nearly everything else to a faith-based thrift store. She gave her sofa and chair to a single mother. I watched her shed the occasional tear as she let go of things that obviously triggered happy memories. One morning she came to the breakfast table carrying her wedding gown in a box. “It’s time to let this go too,” she said. That’s when I shed a tear.
Downsizing isn’t easy, and I’m proud of Mom for doing it well. She’d never base her happiness on money or material possessions, but letting go was like signaling the beginning of the end of her independence. That was a huge step. I believe her faith in Jesus gave her the courage to take it.
Mom knew her possessions couldn’t accompany her and she was okay with that. She was content knowing Jesus would move with her. For her, Jesus’s presence was enough.
Faith Step: Give a treasured belonging away as an act of worship to Jesus.
