Making Room...

Bon Appetit? Am I going to do a whole blog on a cooking magazine? Well, no. But those of you who know me well know I love Bon Appetit and have collected them for many years. And I am getting rid of them; that is what this blog is about.

“Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” Genesis 26:22

I have always found this verse, and the whole chapter actually, interesting. The nutshell version is Isaac is opening wells originally dug by his father, Abraham. As he opens one well someone comes along and claims it is their well. This happens several times until at last, no one bothers Isaac about the well. That is when he declares that God has made room for them in the land.

No, this is not a random thought; there is a point. We are pretty well into January now and I am now cleaning up and out. This could have something to do with the fact that I have just put all the Christmas stuff away, or it could be because my daughter plans to get married this year. Either way, the New Year is a great time to sort things out and start fresh.

Personally, I am embarking on a healthier lifestyle. I am still not eating gluten and have eliminated other things from my diet as well – dairy, corn, sugar, and meat. And, as I mentioned earlier, we have a wedding coming up this year and usually (from what I hear) there is some expense associated with weddings, so I am preparing for a garage sale to add to the income column of the budget and help offset the “outgoing” column of the budget. This involves cleaning out, sorting, and my favorite, throwing away! And that brings me to the Bon Appetit’s. Some of these I have had for a while – yes, that really says 1989!

 

And I am not just getting rid of magazines. I have gone through cupboards, closets, craft supplies, and boxes I have been storing since we moved into the house. Honestly, it feels great! My house is neater and more orderly, which makes it easier to keep clean, which means time spent on things that are more important to me like my college classes.

So what is my point? I am making “room” in my life. In cleaning out my house I am not making room for more stuff. I am making “room” for simplicity and peace. I am making room for friends and gardening and school and making wedding decorations! And with my healthier lifestyle choice I am also making “room.” I am making room for weight loss and better health. But hopefully, I am also making “room” for other more important things – things I want more than weight loss. Hopefully, I am making room for forgiveness and love, which I need in abundance. And perhaps, there will be room for grace and wisdom too – you can never have too much of  either! And maybe, hopefully, God willing, like Isaac, I also will flourish.