When I was preparing to move from the midwest to the south, I was looking through a massive amount of stuff. LOL, the saying, ‘You never know how much you have, until you start to move’ comes to mind.
I have so many shoes, hand bags, coats, jackets, galore … pots, pans, kitchen accessories, and photographs. On this particular evening, I was having a conversation with my mom. I asked my mom about what I could throw away. I asked her about what she thought was important.
I told her that one of my faculty mentors instructed my to keep my dissertation and major papers for one year!!! Argh!!!
I told her that I had boxes and boxes of books …
A few boxes of academic documents…
Boxes among the of articles and whitepapers…
Another box of approximately 300 photographs …
When we were sharing, I complained of the usefulness of thousands of 35mm pics and corrresponding negatives that I have accumulated over the years. She and I talked briefly about those memories on those pictures. I told her about my desire to scan thee images and get rid of this weight, but my lack of time to do so before my move.
While we were speaking, I started looking through the pictures.
I remembered experiences of work in Marianna, Tallahassee, Portland, Huntsville, San Francisco, San Diego, Terre Haute …
I remembered experiences in high school- prom, Home Economics, my high school pals.
I wanted to scan them in, not throw them away.
She agreed and at the end of the conversation, she quickly said, “Just throw away the negatives.”
After I hung up, I went through the big pile on my office floor, I grabbed all of the pictures, stored them, but threw away those negatives.
I remembered what my mom said and I recited that many times,
‘Throw away the negatives’.
‘Throw away the negatives’.
‘Throw away the negatives’.
For a moment, I thought of all of the sin, weights, distractions, and negative thoughts that I’ve let into my life. I threw away those negatives too!
The Lord sent His word unto me:
-For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).
-And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
(Ephesians 4:29).
-Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
(I Corinthians 14:1).
-Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4).
-Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:24).
-And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full (1 John 1:4).
-Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full (2 John 1:12).
-Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).
#ThanksMom
#ThrowAwayTheNegatives
Closer 