Goodwill be done

“It's that wonderful old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second. This was the whole ethic by which I was brought up. Others matter more than you do, so 'don't fuss, dear; get on with it."

[Audrey Hepburn]

Today I cleaned out some junk. When I say junk, I mean some clothes that I didn't really need in the first place. One thing I have a problem with is shopping (yes, I am openly confessing that I am slightly addicted to shopping, thanks to my mother, ha). And I will go ahead and say that clothes and purses are most definitely my weakness. But as I was putting clothes that I have no need for anymore in trash bags (3 of them to be exact), I realized that even though I had too many clothes to start with, their final destination was to be with someone who was in need. Don't get me wrong, I'm not making any excuses for my shopping addiction, because I am well aware that it is something that I need to work on. But what I am saying is, where I am abundantly blessed, I get to help provide for those who are in need. I am way too blessed with what I get, so when the clothes I have don't fit or just grow old to me, I don't put them in the trash. I bag them up and send them to Goodwill. We have done this with all of our clothes since I was little. Back then, I didn't really know that we were sending our old clothes to a place where people who were not as fortunate as us could buy them. Now that I understand the concept, it humbles my heart to be able to fill bags with clothes and give them to Goodwill. There have been many times that I have found myself making an excuse as to why I should keep a shirt or pair of pants, leaving me stuck with clothes that I won't REALLY wear. Today I took a different approach, if I even thought "well I will wear this when......or I think I can still wear this...." I immediately put it in the bag. It occurred to me that making an excuse for a piece of clothing someone else could use many more times than I could, was a selfish choice on my part. So, needless to say I ended up with three (full) trash bags of clothing, shoes and purses today. And when it was over and done with I felt a sense of relief and hope. Hope that the clothes that I was passing on to Goodwill, will be a way to reach out and give to those in need during the Christmas season.

I encourage you that the next time you stand in front of your open closet, pondering what it is you are going to wear for the day, look at what you DON'T wear. If there are items that you know you will never wear again, put them in a bag and take them to Goodwill, Salvation Army or a homeless shelter. Take the clothes ANYWHERE there is someone in need. Never forget the reason for the Christmas season......GIVE GIVE GIVE!

Remember this:

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."

[2 Corinthians 9:6]