8 months into my "no clothes shopping"** and still feel like I need to downsize my closet some more. The house we have moved into has one closet in the master bedroom, and my husband only has his shoes and uniforms in there, the rest of his clothes are upstairs in our son's (big) closet because my clothes take up more than the rest of the space.
I guess moving makes me more aware of the quantity of our belongings, and the number of things we take for granted that we have. Things that I forget we own because we don't use them on a regular basis and sometimes only see when transitioning from one home to another, but can't seem to get bring ourselves to dispose of.
We've been blessed beyond measure (and I don't mean we have ridiculous amounts of belongings, just that we have above what our NEEDS are... I suppose it depends on who you are comparing us to), and I struggle with what we are doing to give back and return that blessing. I constantly feel like there is more that can be done....Beyond that, I also feel a call to minimize, to decrease the number of things that I have come to believe are necessity. While refraining from shopping has helped to not increase the number of things, I haven't done enough to bring that number down. Sometimes I know I feel God telling me to do something, but I'm not always great at hearing the details...I need prayers for clarity and discernment. I do know I don't want to be defined for the earthly possessions I have, but rather, what I do with what God has blessed me. I want to break this cycle of learned behavior that creates a sense of entitlement.."I have worked hard for this money, I deserve to buy ________" and create more a behavior of "God has blessed me with this money or means, how can I use it for His glory, and to further His Kingdom?" Living in a society that is constantly focused on what the next best thing is and how to get it, makes it very hard to stay focused on what God's purpose is for our life. I am pretty sure that God's purpose for me does not require a vast wardrobe full of trendy items and cute shoes. But it does require a heart of a servant and the willingness to act on what He leads me to do.
**I have to make a disclaimer/confession on the "no clothes shopping". My goal was to not purchase anything for myself that was not an absolute necessity. Here are some examples of what I have deemed necessity over the last 8 months:
1) dress for my husband's work Christmas party because I didn't have an appropriate one to fit my current "physique"
2) dress for my nephew's wedding...for similar reasons.
3) new t-shirts (I bought 4 for $10 each at Target last week) to replace the ones that were too small and had ant holes in them from the ants that invaded our closet a year ago.
4) new bathing suits that are modest and fit right for this summer. I bought 4 tankinis (we have a beach trip coming up and will be there for a week.)
Perhaps some of these things could have been eliminated as not being a necessity, but I am not claiming to be perfect, only making an attempt to stick to this pledge and conviction. Before and after most of those purchases, I was hesitant and sought reassurance (read "permission") from a few of the women in my life (my mom, my sister Michelle, and my friend Amy) whose opinions I trust and who understand the commitment I'm trying to fulfill, and who I know will help hold me accountable.
