What's In Your Box?

One of my favorite things about Christmas is decorating my home. There is such joy in watching lights twinkle and see a touch of Christmas everywhere I look. Now it is not usually Better Homes and Gardens decorated, but rather a huge mix of this, that and the other put together until it becomes a beautiful collection of Christmas cheer.

What I don't love is putting away the decorations. The usual method is to buy a new storage box each year and quickly place items in all the boxes until they are full. There are a variety of sized storage bins all filled to the brim with all the Christmas items. My decor could be categorized since there are items that are used on the mantle, coffee tables, above cabinets, tree ornaments, garland etc. But when putting them away, they all get thrown in the box that needs to be filled. 

This 'system' has resulted in more boxes than necessary, it takes up more room than needed and causes more work at the beginning of the next Christmas season. There has got to be a better way!  

Feeding on that end of Christmas/beginning of New Year energy that wants to organize and generally make all things better, I spent the day going through the Christmas storage boxes. Placing similar items together, discarding unused or broken things and giving away things that simply take up space year after year while being unused. When it is time to undecorate this year, the process will be much easier, methodical and orderly. 

This is my favorite week of the year to reflect back on the past and look forward with hopes and dreams to new beginnings. A New Year is a fresh start. It is a great time to evaluate what we are filling our lives with. Often, like the Christmas storage containers, I bring more items in that I can use. Broken, useless habits take up space but contribute nothing. Sometimes I say 'yes' to every opportunity without pausing to evaluate where it will fit and how could it be used. This usually causes my 'box' or life to be full or overflowing but only a handful of things are being used. 

A better plan is always to simplify, to pare down, to evaluate what is truly important. This week is a great time to evaluate the gifts and abilities God has placed in our hearts. As a Christian, one of my greatest desires is to make an impact in the lives of others. But to be effective, I must recognize the God-given gifts He uses to flow through me. When I pile more 'stuff' into the box, it hinders the life giving flow of the Holy Spirit. God is our Creator, the One who formed each of us. He made us unique, for a purpose and with a purpose. We glorify Him as we reveal Him to others and they behold His beauty and embrace His plan for their lives, 

What are the gifts, abilities, desires God has placed in you? What do you love or are passionate about? If we could identify a few of these areas in our lives this year, we could focus on them, grow in them, use them as a measuring stick to evaluate the many things we come across to determine if they will be useful in our 'box/life' or simply take up space. 

My prayer for you this New Year is for God to reveal the beauty, blessing and purpose He has for you. My encouragement is to seek Him daily and grow in the grace of our Lord everyday. Happy 2020!