Lighter Still
We are letting go of a couple of other things around here.
Simeon, our nineteen-year-old son is moving out soon. It’s time once again to relinquish and launch a child who has been under our roof and attached to our hearts since conception. We’re thrilled for him, of course. He has big plans. In October he will marry his sweetheart, Sarah. In January he hopes to continue his schooling and he also dreams of a year of mission work with his bride.
On top of it all, Simeon and Sarah just bought a fixer-upper. It needs a lot of fixing up, but with some proper TLC they will be able to make it their own. God has provided a sweet place for them to call home and to begin building a life together.
I prayed for that perfect provision on their behalf. And I have a little secret. I also added some prayer on our behalf. I asked God to supply that nest for them and to attach a healthy amount of storage space along with it. Simeon owns a lawn business. He also owns two trailers, a truck, two large professional grade mowers, a massive aerator, several trimmers, multiple gas cans and assorted miscellaneous equipment. His lawn tools litter our lawn.
Simeon also plays the drums like nobody's business, and he has the percussion instruments to prove it. He parks his motorcycle in our garage and pretends to corral his numerous odds and ends in his room. There's not a pretty way to say it: he possesses a boat-load of belongings and they take up a lot of space.
Surely God had an accommodation for Simeon and his sweet bride—and for my sanity.
Just so you know, there’s a little bit of history here that helped prompt my prayer. We seem to be good at letting go of children but holding on tight to their stuff. Not by choice mind you. Two went into the military and their possessions went into our garage. One left home to attend graduate school—in Israel. He had to travel light so his possessions traveled, you guessed it, through the wide door into our garage that hasn’t hosted a car in years. I’m not exactly complaining. But if we’re forced to give up the kids, it would be nice to gain a little more space and manage a little less clutter.
Compared to his siblings, Simeon is in a class all by himself. With all his equipment and paraphernalia, I decided I needed to be proactive and put in a reasonable request. Surely God had an accommodation for Simeon and his sweet bride—and for my sanity.
Sure enough, God did. Enter fixer-upper with glorious basement/garage storage. I could cry for joy.
I'm excited for Simeon in this new phase of life. I will miss his big smile and daily presence in our house. And Sarah? I’m thrilled to welcome such a godly and precious young woman to this crazy family. We couldn’t be more pleased.
Here’s a triple hallelujah (Because some things are worth shouting about):
Hip-hip hooray for God who answers the prayers of a clutter-weary woman!
Congratulations Simeon and Sarah! I’m cheering you on!
Yippee! The neighbors will be cheering too when the lawn equipment leaves our yard and the trailers exit our street.
Now that’s a lighter I can live with.
