She was a lovely woman and an expert in her field – the stager sent by the realtor to prepare my house for sale. At the outset, she warned me, “I’m not here to offend anyone. I just want you to get the most money for your house.”
I was prepared for her to move things around and give me some decorating ideas, but I was emotionally blindsided by the number of my treasures she declared, “This has to go.” Basically, she dismantled my house and my personal stuff.
She left piles of things in every room to get rid of in order to most effectively sell the house. She was very good at her job, and I learned so many things about spacing, color, lighting, even the size of pictures as they become a statement beside a bed or on a wall.
Buyers will be looking for the feeling of space and for a neutral territory where they can set up their home. Anything personal of mine will interrupt that neutral feeling, so it cannot be in sight.
The stager showed me how to hide certain things, such as the litter box, so buyers are unaware the house once was ruled by a cat. Betsey, aka Gabriel, would disagree, but she will find her box and discreetly do her business – a bit perturbed that her abode has been disturbed.
I learned how important my stuff is to me. Most of my things are the early attic variety, garage sale finds or something I have restored that another person threw away. Nothing has great intrinsic value – except in my soul.
While I know we are not defined by our stuff, in a way – yes, we are.
Quilts, a cradle, an antique telephone – all carry sentimental value for me. The quilt my grandmother and her sisters made for my wedding – a creamy yellow, with butterflies made from the scraps of their lives, babies’ bonnets, a favorite shirt.
The cradle, fashioned by my dad, held my newborn son as we rocked him to sleep that first Christmas. The fire blazed and kept my baby warm. Dad woke up every thirty minutes to check on the heat emanating off the logs. A sweet memory, a grief rekindled.
The old telephone my parents pieced together by visiting scores of flea markets and antique shops, then proudly gave to me one Christmas – long before Alzheimers invaded our lives and stole that precious memory.
Yet none of these treasures made the cut. “Get rid of them or find a place to store them – out of the way,” the stager instructed.
How can I shove my lifetime out of the way?
As she finished her work, the stager and I learned a bit more about each other. Both of us write. Both of us have journeyed through divorce and experienced pre-judgement by the established church. Both of us love cats.
When she left, we hugged and I was glad for a new friend, for her many suggestions which I know on some level are right and will help me sell the house.
But somehow, I also felt violated and discouraged, certain my life was going to change, wondering how I could decide what to let go.
The piles of my life’s debris reminded me how mortal we are and how fleeting is life – a mere breath – a candle that should be given away to bring another person joy, a sofa table so out of date no one would want it even if it was free.
My son was shocked and upset by the suggestions made for how we needed to purge more and more and more. As we talked through our emotions, he finally said, “Change is hard for me, Mom. But just because it’s hard doesn’t mean it’s bad.”
A wise young man. I admire his honesty.
Although the purging pains my soul, my journal entries speak the truth. This duplex has never been home for me; it was only a place to settle while I worked in this town.
Now that all my pictures have been stripped off the walls, my mantel decoration has been condemned and the detritus of my life lies in piles on the floor – it feels even less like the place where I can freely write, create stories and be my authentic self.
So my son and I are trusting God to provide something wonderful for us again, just as he has done through every step of the post-divorce journey. If we have to stay in this duplex, then we’ll be grateful for a roof over our heads. And it will be cleaner, sans the stuff we no longer need.
In “Jesus Calling” Sarah Young writes, “Anticipate coming face-to-face with impossibilities: situations totally beyond your ability to handle…When you see armies of problems marching toward you, cry out to God! Allow him to fight for you. Watch him working on your behalf.”
So that’s where I am this day – purging, mourning the loss of stuff, and waiting for next steps – clinging to God and trying to find hope.
©2016 RJ Thesman – Author of the Reverend G books http://amzn.to/1rXlCyh
Change IS hard. We left 40 acres, five outbuildings, and a 2500 sq. ft. house when we moved to our little 1100 modular home by the lake. I, too, realized how ‘things’ had become my comfort, my ‘safe place’. We gave away, sold, hauled away, and gave away more–and honestly, there are still some things I miss not having. But I love our wee cottage, and our wee cove, and have learned some valuable lessons about myself. Love this post, Rebecca. Thank you for being honest! And blessings for the future.
Thank you, Julane. You are one of my she-roes !
Oh. My. Goodness! Thank you, Rebecca!
Praying for you during this transitional time, Rebecca. I know God has great plans for both you and your son!
Thank you, Molly. All prayers greatly appreciated !
Tough stuff to work through.
Yep! Appreciate all prayers !
Working at nursing homes and now an assisted living in our small town has shown me over and over how little of our ‘stuff’ makes it to our later years. A lifetime of things narrowed down to just a few cherished items. Yes, it will all be burned up…but those memories remain. These items and memories are what God has given us to make our journey here on this earth just a bit more pleasant. And after so many moves over my lifetime, I also know that those cherished pieces of our pasts are what make our new home a refuge and a place of security. Seeing those ‘things’ gives us comfort and wraps us in a warm blanket of what we know. Praying for you and your future and only the comfort God can give through the Holy Spirit during this time of transition.
So much wisdom in your comment! Thank you!
Rebecca, your open sharing about “change” and what might be in the corners of your house will be helpful to a lot of people! Discarding or giving away personal items is difficult–that’s for sure. One pattern that helps me is to hold or touch the item and give thanks to God for the good experiences it brought. Then RELEASE IT in a practical way as God guides me.
Beautiful and practical method of release. Thanks, Charlotte !
Thank you Rebecca. Much needed. Appreciated. And as always, well written.
Thanks, Sylvia. Appreciate the encouragement !
I admire your honesty about the purging process and am praying for you and Caleb. Love you, friend.
Thank you, Shanna. I think we are gradually growing accustomed to the changes. Appreciate your prayers !
Oh, such a real struggle. I feel as Deborah Harman does. We have these things to bring us comfort. Purging them is difficult. Moving back from the Middle East was like that for me. I had to decide quickly what to keep and what to leave. And really, RJ, I can relate to your purging struggle on another level. The woman, the stager, instructed you to get rid of the “personal stuff.” I am teaching myself to commit the images of those I love to memory as they fade away little by little from my sight and hearing. In my mind, I hear the sweet giggly voices of my nieces, and the voices of my families long after they’ve left the house, trying to capture and let go of what I can hold close to me. Purging is an emotional exercise any way you cut it. But God keeps focusing us on Him, who promises us that we will never be separated ever. He will not be purged from us. Take HOPE up again!
Amy
Thanks, Amy – what a beautiful reminder that memories stay in the heart whether or not we can still “see” them. Blessings to you!
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