Little stacks of memories. On the floor.
Newspaper clippings browned with age. Aerogramme letters, typed full-length and on the flaps. Magazine articles. Journal entries.
There’s no time to read every word.
So we glance. Skim. Scan for tidbits of life history.
And laugh over stories long forgotten.
Down-sizing
Sorting takes us through manila folders and brown envelopes full of many things. Shoeboxes of old pictures. Various markers of time and place.
Part of me wants to hold on. Tuck everything back in a box or drawer. Save it for future reference.
And I do keep some things.
But transition looms. The date on the calendar is set for the movers in a few days. And we feel urgency to complete the down-sizing that’s been going on for some time.
Releasing
This latest move by my parents involves releasing more than before.
They moved often in years past. Mom always calls a move “the great purging.” Getting rid of excess. Simplifying.
But they’ve lived longer in this house than any other.
Amidst the piles and boxes, exhaustion sets in. Emotional. Mental.
We walk outside in sunshine and shade. Blue-sky, fresh-air break for clarity and courage.
Memories and mercies
Sorting through bits and pieces of history, I remember what is temporal.
Shoeboxes fall apart. Articles crumble. Letters don’t last.
Names and connections fade as years and generations pass. Memories falter.
But in the differing stages of our lives. Through it all. The Lord never changes.
His love never fails. His mercies are new. Every morning.
We rest in His faithfulness.
“I will be the same”
On moving day, I take down the bulletin board and move it to their new home. Several things remain tacked on it. Including a verse Mom and Dad have placed front and center in this season of their lives.
“I will be the same until your old age,
and I will bear you up when you turn gray.
I have made you, and I will carry you;
I will bear and rescue you.”
Isaiah 46:4 CSB
Both turned 89 in 2021. And this month we’re celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.
“I will be the same.” In the moving. In the memories. Through every marker of time and place.
Yes, Lord, You are faithful.
What about you
Have you struggled to release letters saved and memories stored? What has the Lord taught you in the midst of transition?
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The long obedience – Loss – Feeling sand between my toes – Temporary nest – Transit – Trust Me – Stability – Strong roots and movable tents –
21 replies on “Sorting memories”
O how I relate to this, Susan! We began downsizing a few years ago. We are not moving again but I’m cleaning out all the files, etc. Just this week I’ve eliminated 2 large plastic bags of “stuff.” More to do. Isaiah 46:4 is a new verse for me and I’ll add it to my daily scripture support: Lamentations 3:22-25: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself ,the Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Thanks for sharing, Bettie. It is not easy! And Lamentations 3:22-25 is strengthening “for such a time as this.”
I enjoyed seeing photos of your parents. What a blessing to still be together. I am in the process of letting go. I am thankful that our GOD holds on to us.
Amen. What a deep comfort to walk in that truth. Grace to you in the letting go.
Great pictures of your mom and dad, Susan. I’ve always been blessed by the things you say about them. So special to be celebrating their 65th anniversary!!! ♥️
Thanks, Debbie 🙂 Truly thankful for them!
So beautiful how you express their process and sweetly and accurately deliver a well deserved tribute!! Thank you!
Thanks, sister 🙂
Susan, this is such a joy to see your parents and celebrating 65 years of marriage. We’ve never met but we have dear friends who love you and your family – Tom and Hazel Barron.
Oh! Tom and Hazel are so dear. They were encouragers to us when we were serving in South Asia.
I understand about downsizing. I have been trying to do that for a few years. Somestimes I save more than I discard. Would also like to let you know that I just finished reading the article you wrote in the August 2021 Mission Mosaic, Imitating Mentors. I really enjoyed it. In fact I always enjoy reading all the articles you write. God bless you as you continue to serve Him. Jeanette.
Thank you for sharing, Jeannette. Isn’t that always the struggle as we try to downsize! I’m so glad to know you’re reading Mosaic.
Beautifully written. What an example your parents are! This is a glorious testimony to our faithful God!
Thank you, friend. Yes, glory to God!
Suz, this brought back so many memories from the downsizing to the purging to the sadness associated with days gone by memories to the promises of our experiences the connections the faithfulness of our Heavenly Father remains the same ….” I will go with “…. I’m so grateful for their lives well lived and their faithfulness to God and to each other. Prayers for clinging to the memories for as long as their earthly minds and bodies can and for gentleness in this transition of their lives to the more simple.
Thank you, dear Kerri. You know. Grateful for the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever!
I started scanning family photos and saved documents – it really helped me to let go of the physical items and keep the memories. Lots more to do… and a good project for continued lockdown!
Way to go😊. But sorry about the continuing lockdown where you are, sister.
Thanks so much, Susan! We are in the midst of sorting and packing and these were all such good reminders. He never changes!
It’s about letting go sometimes, and that’s hard for me. I want to keep all the little bits, the photos, the memories, the letters, but you can’t always. Every time we move or change, something changes. How many photos do we find later in life and we can’t remember the names of the people or the occasion? Reading letters brings up memories, but ink fades and paper deteriorates or documents get lost. And then as we get older, our memories even fade. I’ve been thinking about this lately. So thankful we can always depend on Him. Even if I’m not the same as I was 30 years ago, He is still the same. He is still guiding my life. He is still there. Amen
Sometimes the grief of all the letting go we’ve done catches me by surprise. But like you said, He is still the same and He is faithful. And He comforts. Thankful for you, sis.