Mysterious encounters

By Joyce Pelletier
      It’s been a strange summer. Rain for over twenty-six Saturdays in a row. Humidity, discomfort, Where is that cool breeze? In early spring we decided to pare down our house. Being ready for a change and the demand of space and no place to put things. This Heron has no worries here. But our planning was stretched to the limit of patience.
   
      We diligently went through all our ‘stuff’ because it was just too much to fret about. I’ve been thinking about ‘Tiny house living.’ No place to put the stuff that we use and thinking we just can’t live with this stuff, maybe more, do I really need this stuff. The Heron just doesn't worry about such things.
     
      I love to be creative and sew and decorate. It’s even more fun when it’s old stuff. After a few weeks, I don’t want the old stuff. It clutters up my house and there is just not enough place to store things. The Heron just poses as only they can do. No fretting of worries.
     
      We happily decluttered our house and kept what we really needed. I had a very tedious job, but even more, when the stuff left our greedy hands of hanging on to, the more I sold the more freedom I felt. The end results may have caused some fretting, but victoriously we rise above.
     
      There are certain things in life that we do need are called essentials. Like dishes to eat out of pots and pans to cook in and beds to sleep in and blankets to keep warm. One item I had was a glider rocker. It was a gift given to us by a former neighbor. I recovered that chair at least 4 times from scraps of fabric. Recently, not having a pattern, I hand sewed the cushions. Pinned it ever so gently. The cushions were curvy and I added rectangular buttons, and it became a very special part of my furniture. We have a sort of smaller house, which I am happy about, but the truth is it’s just too crowded, so I decided to declutter the excess, and sell it in the sale.
     
       An interesting thing happened in my heart. An older gentleman came along and he sat in the chair. I mentioned that I never had the stool that swung with the rocker. His response, “I like this chair, besides, I have the stool already. I only needed the chair.”  We chuckled. He bought my favorite chair and something happened inside of me. I felt a sense of joy giving this man his new chair. I knew not the environment it went to, but I did know this man taught me a sense of letting things go, so someone else could enjoy a simple chair. And it gave me a sense of freedom in knowing that God gave me my true freedom, for surrendering it to someone who could enjoying it in his home. After all, they are only things. The encounter was the most valuable part.
       
        Psalm 37:1-7 says “Do not fret because of those who are evil or envious of who do wrong; for like the grass they will wither, like green plants they will soon die away, Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this. He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their wicked schemes.