I started packing and weighing my suitcases a couple of weeks ago..and am still doing that to be honest. What does a person take for years of living in a third world country
A friend really wanted me to take something back with me, so that item goes. Another friend already in the country needed some items. They will definitely go. I know how much I appreciate having someone bring things over for me. Then there’s a gift I bought for someone. It will go. Another friend called today and told me that a gift they’d given me should at least be used to buy a bag of tootsie rolls to take back. I’ll buy and pack the tootsie rolls. I want to make molasses cookies for Christmas. A big jar of molasses must go.
Then the scenario goes like this when my bags are almost at the max. “Just need to add one more thing. Oh, and this. Then, hmm, maybe if I remove this packing it will give me a few more ounces and I can add this pair of socks… Weighing again…Okay, remove another packaging and put item in a ziplock bag…ooops! I see I forgot to tape this lotion bottle securely closed. Add tape. Weigh again…perfect! Ugh. I forgot to put in… If I put the big bottle in bag #1 and move these 3 lighter items to bag #2, maybe…” You get the idea!
But at the end of all of this packing, it comes down to what is a necessary item, and what am I willing to leave behind. Or, what is priority for me. Isn’t that true though in all of life? We exert energy, we take time for what is important, we use our resources for what is priority for us.
I recently read the parable in Luke 12:16-21 where the rich man wanted to pull down his barns and build bigger ones to guard even more for himself. It made me think about my resources. That could be time, energy, finances, material things. But what will I do with what God has given me?
I’ll leave you thinking on that too, and now, back to packing!