Comments on: Simplifying versus Stewardship?

By: cindy tippit

cindy tippit — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 02:03:32 +0000

my house is being foreclosed on and I have plans to move to England to be with my daughter who lives there. I have a 1185 sq ft house that is crammed full of my stuff and my parents’ stuff. I must sell everything I can. But I have some beautiful antiques and things that were my mom’s. But I can’t take much! I am 65 years old and a keeper of “things” I need help! My friend just told me about your website. I need to know what to take over seas and what is best to sell or give away. I still have the chest of drawers I had when I was a young child…..

By: Janine

Janine — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 04:34:26 +0000

Brittney, I think that this issue not only involves being good stewards of stuff, it’s also about being good stewards, or managers of what we have been blessed with; our lives, our family, our relationships, and our homes; however big they are. Basically, it’s a question of how to balance our lives so that we can live life to the fullest in whatever situation we are in. (Yes, there is a time to keep, but there is also a time to let go.)
Whether we like it or not, we are stewards of our children’s lives too – until they are old enough to take over. I grew up in a home lovingly filled with lots and lots of stuff. I did enjoy it as a child – if it was a neat pile, it was ‘clean’. Stuff was re-used, but most of the time it just sat there in case one day it came in handy.
I paid the price dearly when I married a wonderful man who cannot relax in a home where there is clutter. Because I want him to want to come home and feel rested, I have had to give away, and because my parents taught me (unwittingly) to ‘value stuff’ it was a very, very painful process.
May you find what you value and keep it, and be able to let go of all the rest.
By the way, next week we are halving our house size too. Feel free to laugh at me as I weep over a very battered sofa bed and several retro dining chairs (family heirlooms) that will have to go.

By: Lily

Lily — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:52:59 +0000

We used Norton anthologies of English literature at University, here in Italy. I lovingly keep them too.

Here it’s like in Singapore, I guess – no charity shops or garage sales, which is a pity. I’d love to be able to shop secondhand or resell my stuff. I often try to sell things on eBay but only some are sold, and in the end I gladly pack my stuff and put it in the RedCross bins. Sometimes bf and I give away home items through FreeCycle, it’s nice to see people happy to get your old stereo or coffee table!

By: V. Higgins

V. Higgins — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:08:23 +0000

In many ways I think that simplifying is the first step towards good stewardship. The biggest part of making the transition is making sure the things that are useful get used, even if not by you (this is where Goodwill, Craigslist and Freecycle come into play). Why store something that you might use once in an 18 month period when someone else could be using it more? When you simplify and tweak your thinking, you become more purposeful in 1) what you buy 2) what you need. This allows you to not only be a better steward of things, but also of your time which is a much more valuable resource.

By: Fern

Fern — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:16:37 +0000

Great question and post! I just found your blog through a link to your soap making tutorial. I can't think of a single thing I've given away that I ever missed. I use a couple of techniques that help me keep things that are meaningful or useful and still not drag around a bunch of things that aren't of any real value to me. First, I keep my sentimental objects out where I can see and enjoy them. What is the point of having family heirlooms packed away? But since I only keep sentimental things out in the open, I can only keep things that have a dedicated spot. I have one small display cabinet and that's it! And second, I periodically donate to charity anything I haven't used or worn in a year. If I am unsure about something, I'll put it in a box with a date on the box, one year from the day I put it in there. If I haven't gone to the box during that year to use the object, then I donate it. Fern's last blog post..Another Frugal Gardening Tip

By: Deb

Deb — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:14:31 +0000

Seriously, I was just considering this today, as I took down the rest of my winter clothes from the attic. I am trying to lose weight, and have a significant amount of clothing that won't fit unless I lose at least 10 lbs. Is that feasible in this season? Yes. Should I keep everything I now own, just in case the economy gets worse? No. I don't think so. Here's why--a very good friend who has almost no money could use the clothes *this* season. Should I give away everything that does not fit me now? No. There are pieces that I know I can use for years to come, and *will* use for years to come. They are classic, "me," and worth saving. What a great topic! Deb's last blog post..On the Rocks

By: Judah

Judah — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:01:51 +0000

I came to understand that I don’t need to own something just because I happened to like it. It is good to be able to admire something and not have to own it.

My real needs are not nearly as great as I had once thought. What are your real needs?

Recognizing that those needs were already truly met, I found the rest could be more easily seen for what they are, namely, wants rather than needs.

Ask oneself “does this really improve my quality of life?” before making a purchase. Do the same when deciding what things to give away.

Possessing more than we need can become a weighty burden. Good stewardship involves managing possessions wisely, not keeping everything exclusively for one’s own use. Giving responsibly (yes, responsibly – not thoughtlessly) truly does return you a reward in knowing that you have shared your wealth with others.

When you give good gifts, you have not lost anything. You often gain far more than you have given away.

By: Vintage Mommy

Vintage Mommy — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 00:32:03 +0000

We've just been working on cleaning out our basement. Some things were easy to part with, some impossible - at least for now. Those things are baby clothes and some baby equipment (we wanted a second child, it didn't happen and now I'm thinking about becoming a foster parent); and a giant box of china that my husband's mom (who has died) hand-painted. Today I decided we will have a "we can't deal with it" area and move on. This is a really interesting subject on so many levels! (the economy, living green, simplifying, being frugal, etc etc) Vintage Mommy's last blog post..Show and Tell: “Use It or Lose It” Knitting

By: juliet

juliet — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:39:09 +0000

Follow the trail of the item your are thinking about buying. Consider the energy required to manufacture and ship to you, the quality of the stewardship of the company that made it as well as the conditions under which it was produced, including the possibility of an exploited and/or underaged worker. This will probably eliminate 99% of your optional purchases.

By: Jennifer in TX-

Jennifer in TX- — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:03:04 +0000

This may sound a little “out there” but honestly the SCARIEST Bible story I’ve ever heard was the one in Matthew about the rich man who couldn’t bare to part with his worldly goods to follow Jesus…. I guess that has been the fuel to my fire in giving away just about everything we have except the bare necessities, if you don’t own it for a long period of time how can you grow attached to it? – now the plus side to that is that with no possessions we are not drawn to hole up in our house, we get out there and visit friends and family, travel, go to parks, zoos, etc.
Besides, God can’t send you on bigger adventures without smaller luggage!