What is hoarding?
hoard |hôrd|
noun
• a stock or store of money or valued objects, typically one that is secret or carefully guarded
verb
• reserve in the mind for future use
The lady who sold the property to us is a classic hoarder. I was headed in that direction early in my life until my husband lovingly helped me make better choices. Here is my hoarding story if you want to read. On our new property there are 6 little cabins and each of these cute little cabins were STUFFED full of stuff. I mean, you could not even get in them. I can see now the blessing in not keeping everything! It can become someone’s burden someday.
Owen and Evie, our adopted grandparents came several days to help. Owen made the campfire and cooked the cowboy dinners for us while we worked. Evie found lots of treasures. She does not like to see things go to waste. She is a true re-purposing gem making use of old junk. Even the buttons off old shirts that had been half eaten by mice, Evie would carefully remove to be used in the future.
My grandmother also saved everything that she might have a use for in the future. When she died, there was loads full of these things that she hated to throw away, things that may be useful. It was the older generation that held tightly to things because they grew up during a time when things were scarce. My grandparents went through the Great Depression. Grandma never threw away socks, she would darn them so that they would be useful. Mending clothing that was worn out, adding patches and making due was a part of her culture.
I see a lot of wisdom in being resourceful. I think it is wise to fix the broken things if you are able, instead of buying new. It is better to have things on hand so you never get short handed when times get tough. People who are survivalist minded, hoard lots of food and other essentials to life. Having bulk food reserves is a good thing. BUT, there is a fine line between having what you will need and just keeping everything.
I always keep that in mind. I may use 20 twisty ties in my lifetime, but I do not need 1000! All the old freezers that lay all over the property would look better in a scrap metal yard in my opinion. Owen gave us a grand idea. We could use one of the old chest freezers to hold feed for the animals because it is rat proof and dry. That is actually a good idea. As long as I do not have to look at it out my kitchen window, and it sits out in the barn, I am fine.
Re-purposing is the new rage. You can go on Pinterest and find thousands of photos of junk that is turned into something useful or even decorative. I have seen old boots used for herb garden planters. Or broken tea cups used for candles. I plan to decorate with old farm tools and other vintage items. It just looks cool.
The previous owner was a very resourceful woman. She hated to get rid of all these items. When I met her for the first time, I could see that it pained her to leave these things behind. Things that could be useful at some point. Only trouble is, the some point may never come and you just store stuff until someone has to get rid of it.
It makes me never want to become a hoarder. I never want to make a big mess or burden for my family. Someday, they will look at all my treasures and think, they are not that special. Maybe they were special to me, but to others, it is just junk. A Bible verse comes to mind on this note…
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21
Storing up these things did not profit anyone. They are all corrupt from mice, spiders, rust, and mold. And now they will be in the garbage dump or burned.
I only want what we can use. And I want my treasures to be in heaven. When we die, we cannot take any of it with us. Naked we come and naked we return. For me, my greatest treasures are are my five beautiful children and my loving husband. They are the only things that I have in my life that are eternal. I am so blessed.
3 thoughts on “Treasures in Heaven”
This looks like a wonderful property to raise your family & teach them the value of working with their hands. I’m thinking that clearing out all the junk was a good lesson to them. I am following along to read about your adventures. My suggestion is that you come up with a name other than Shackville to reflect your vision for the property. The house doesn’t look bad to me…the floors are nice! It’s wonderful to read about your family teamwork! Love & prayers, in Jesus, Cynthia
We are moving in June so I am sorting through some stuff we have accumulated. It`s a blessing to sort and organize. While it`s only a few boxes in the attic I know that a few boxes leads to a few truckloads.
I wish we could come and help you!!!
Like you we purchased a property filled with ‘treasures’. There had to be at least 20 broken shovels lying around. It took us months to get it cleaned up. We took 90 tires into the recyclers, there are still many more. We hauled loads and loads of metal away, at least that offers some cash back. We even told our young men if they went out and loaded a trailer with scrap metal from the field they could have the cash. Good incentive for young men ages 10-12. A load was paying $120 at the time.
Barns were cleaned out, huge burn piles made, and the house was gutted. My wonderful husband turned the property into a wonderful farm with a beautiful, functional home.
Like you, it makes me never want to be a horder.