Hot Messes, Nonsense and Foolishness

I am a fan of the TV show Clean House, which runs on the Style network. The premise of the show is this: A family who is bogged down by clutter and messiness either nominates themselves or is nominated by a friend or family member to have their house cleaned up by the show’s crew. The Clean House crew comes in and cleans and reorganizes - getting rid of many old things and re-decorating a few rooms. What struck me so strongly when I began watching the show is how many people are tied to their things. I was amazed by how people knew they needed help with their mess, their homes were quite out of control. Yet they would often cling so tightly and be so reluctant to let go of things that were clearly of no use to them anymore. Some things were dirty, worn out, old. Some things represented a time in their life that was long past, and sometimes even painful. Many are things that are in good shape but no longer used by the people possessing them. Yet they stubbornly cling to them and refuse to let go. The spiritual implications are there. I could preach a little sermon on that, but that’s not what I’m going to talk about today. What I am going to talk about is how much I am like those people on the show, and have been carrying around clutter for the past 18 years. By the help and grace of God I am learning to get rid of it. Why do I have to have these things? I am beginning to get to the root of it. I have an old sewing machine that is in a huge cabinet, it is in great condition. My Father gave it to my Mother as a gift in the late 70’s or early 80’s. She barely used it, but we toted it across the country with us when we moved. When my Dad purchased it, it was the top of the line model with all the bells and whistles. Years later my parents found themselves in difficult times and they lost many of their possessions. But one year my Dad made a point of giving me the sewing machine because I was creative and liked to play around with it when I was a girl. In like manner he & my Mom gave my brother their expensive Kitchen Aid mixer because he was a chef. Soon after they gave these things I took a sewing class, but truthfully I barely used the thing. My Mother-In-Law, who visits me once a year uses it more than me. She has helped us make church banners, she made baby bedding sets for her grandbabies and curtains for her children’s homes with it when she visited. I would have liked to have used it. I always thought and planned to use it in the future, but guess what? I never did. A few weeks ago on the HCBB a member posted about wanting to buy a used sewing machine for a friend who was a very gifted and productive seamstress. I was shamed, because for the first time it dawned on me that I was holding on to something I don’t use or need and someone who could be fabulous with it, could be and should be using it! I am actually being selfish. I am actually just as bad as the people on Clean House who befuddle me! Same goes with baby and kids clothes that I tend to hold on to, but have been gradually getting better at giving away over the years. When my oldest was a baby we were so financially strapped and were blessed to receive many gifts of clothes and many wonderful hand-me-downs. If those generous people were as manically tied to their children’s old things as I was, our child wouldn’t have had all the necessary clothing. How can I hold on to outgrown clothes when there are other children who might need them so badly? I can’t anymore. It seems so crazy and senseless, but it was easier for me to see it in other people than in myself. I think I was so tied to these types of things because I tend to have a sentimental, melancholy personality. I also inherited some pack-rat tendencies from my parents. I also think that the sewing machine was a gift from my Dad and I felt like I would somehow dishonor his memory by giving away a gift from him. The sewing machine also somewhat symbolized the good and prosperous times in his and my mom’s life. But really, I think my Dad would be happier to see me travelin’ light, and as generous as he was, to see someone else put it to good use. So, thanks to the Good Lord for showing me that my nonsense and foolishness was just as bad as the people who stunned me on Clean House. And thanks to the Clean House cast for making the show so entertaining, funny, helpful and insightful.