The Pain in Packing
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Yesterday was one of those wasted days –at least it felt like it at the time. I am packing to move in three days. I am at a point where I need most of what is yet unpacked for daily living (at least that is my rationale for not having it packed). In between packing boxes I got a haircut, wandered through a store or two, played some Sudoku, and had tea with a friend (under the guise of returning some things of hers I didn’t want to move to the new house).
Today I am grateful for the grace of God. I got convicted last night about the waste of time that was in my day and my attitude about what I need for everyday life. I have realized as I am packing how much stuff we own that is just for our convenience. We live the abundant life and I am not always thankful for all of it.
In this move I can see my failure to be grateful. God has provided a great house, at a great price, with a reasonable mortgage (our first mortgage in the eighties was a variable rate that went as high as 21 ½ % at one point). It will be spacious compared to what we are living in and it will return us to investing our money rather than just spending it on rent.
In recent days I have complained about the pain in my sciatica, the boxes or the availability of boxes, the disorder in my home as we pack, the difference in the approaches my husband and I take to stuff and to moving, how much we own, and about our dinners as we try to use up what we have in the freezer so we don’t have to move it. Though I don’t think I have been obnoxious with these attitudes, they are definitely there. Spoiled. Rotten. Brat.
This morning, in His grace, God showed me how blessed we have been to have a truck to begin the move in small steps so moving day is not so intense. He gave me a glimpse of what it means to have men in our home willing to bear the brunt of the big stuff. My lungs have held up through two weeks of packing the basement and dusting things that haven’t been dusted in a while (a huge gift to one who is allergic to dust and molds!). We have eaten like kings and queens from what is in our freezer (and still could for days!).
We live in abundance! The pain in my packing is the pain of God’s reminder that my sin is ingratitude for ALL that He has provided for us. I am reminded that He is gracious in giving to us and He is gracious in what He takes away. If I had no food left in the freezer, no one to help me pack and move, no abundance of stuff to find boxes for – God would still be good and gracious. I know the peace of having Him to provide for me, not so much materially as spiritually.
In His grace God has reminded me that in spite of my ingratitude (and wasted time) Jesus has declared me righteous. Because he has paid that debt I can confess my sin and be cleansed from all unrighteousness.
Moving is not easy and it is not fun. I realize now that keeping the grace of God in mind is not easy either… and seeing my sin in it is not fun. But seeing His grace as we go has been a real gift. I am thankful….again.