Contain Yourself

Greetings everyone,

We have had a busy week. Both here at home and at the base. On base, we organized the supply room for the Chapel. Or at least tried to start organizing the various religous of supplies. I had quite the educational experience with the different religious items needed for the various religions.

Several packages I mailed myself from the States also arrived this week. When I go back to the States I try to mail back anything we might need or would like to consume for the next few months. I wish Chick-Fil-A and Krispy Kreme could survive the USPS trip! To my delight, the packages contained some of our "living on Crete" supplies and containers from The Container Store!

I love The Container Store. For a person that has to have everything contained and in its proper place... this store is amazing. They have everything. I mean everything. Items for every room of your home or office... an organizational paradise.

I am... or I guess was fortunate to live in Atlanta where there are actually not 1 but 2 store locations. What an amazing feeling to walk through the doors..... aisles and aisles of goodies and trinkets made for properly storing your junk! Home, office, school, travel, kitchen, and my favorite ... closet.

Kitchen gadgets, bathroom thingamajig, garage doodads, and closet organizers for as far as the eye can see. If you have questions... there is an organizational or project specialist to help you. Want to plan a new space and need expert help? The Container Store is the place for you. Life in a clutter.... The Container Store will change your life forever!

The most appealing aspect of The Container Store..... their containers... they never change. By that I mean, the shape, size, nor color will differ from year to year. The containers remain the same! I have such a craziness for things not changing.... even my containers must match. Everything in my house has to be contained... and I want them all in uniform containers. When Rubbermaid changes their design, I to have to toss out all the old ones and buy the new style. Even our food containers need to be in one accord.


For the past 8 years I have shopped The Container Store and to date they have not changed on me. The signature shoe, shirt, sweater, boot, under bed, accessory, and my favorite jumbo containers have remained the same. They stack perfectly on top of each other. The larger ones on bottom with the smaller ones fitting nicely on top. Perfect for someone who must have everything neatly put away. In it's "home".


Everything in my home... has it's own home. Kind of like a home within a home.. I guess. (Harry and Kayne think I should be on medication.) It's just that I like the organization. I like the feel of my belongings contained in clear plastic containers. I like my things easily attainable. If I need it.... I can find it. It will be safely in it's "home". Example: Q-tips- in their own container, Cotton balls- in their own container to the right of Q-tips, Band-Aids- in their own container and just beneath the cotton balls, Ointments- in their own container just beneath the Q-tips. You see where this is going? ... all organized in order and near the other things that should accompany them when needed. Fall and scratch up your knee? Just go to the top shelf of the bathroom pantry and you will find everything you need! (And I only described the top shelf bathroom...there are many other shelves in the various rooms of our house.)


I read a book several years ago, Living Organized. I realized through reading this book and I little soul searching. I had to soul search for a while....you see I was getting very frustrated when Harry or Kayne disturbed my organization. I found myself in a state of uneasiness when my things around me were in disarray.


But what I realized is..... organization brings a sense of peace. When you and your household are in peace...there is a sense of security. If my household, or even my car, are clean and organized I feel relaxed. A sense of calming in my spirit. When everything around me is disorganized I cannot sit still. I feel the need to straighten things up. To not go to bed until everything is in its rightful place or "home".


But once I realized this need to organize in myself, I decided to pray about it. Is it okay to want everything just so? I am trying to strive for perfection? Or am I really some form of June Cleaver?


The verses I came across in the Bible referring to having ones house organized or in order...

"The Lords says,

Put your house in order,.."

Sounds perfect, right? This is the verse I am going to use with Kayne and Harry. Except when you continue on with...

"...because you are going to die;"

2 Kings 20:1 (NIV)

What? The second part makes me want to go dump everything out of their nice neat little boxes. Thankfully, the rest of the story in 2 Kings is Hezekiah pleas with God and God adds 15 years to his life. Yet, when you stop to think about it... when a Christian dies with Christ in their heart... they will experience perfect peace. The peace that comes from sitting at the feet of our Father. Yet, I am in no hurry to die. I still have so much to do for Him and the Kingdom.

So that's it. My strive for perfect organization is summed up with the desire to experience peace within. Peace in my surroundings. Peace at home. Home is your sanctuary from work, school, and sometimes ministries. It is supposed to be a place for comfort and relaxation. A place where you unwind and feel secure. A place where you eat, sleep, and recharge yourself for tomorrows awaiting challenges.

Households can become "cluttered" with the normal everyday stresses of life. Stresses of work, ministry, kids, and school can become overwhelming to the point of exhaustion. Whether your household be disturbed with clutter as mine is... or the other "clutters" of life, struggles in marriage, struggles in finances, difficulties with children, complications with aging parents, failing ministries the stresses causes the me to take my eyes off Him. I become consumed with how to "clean up" everything I forget who the greatest house cleaner is. I forget the One who makes everything perfect. And the only One who has perfect peace.

Just remember... God is bigger than your greatest problem! He is bigger than your greatest "mess". God has the ability to clean sweep your household and your life. God can wipe away all the difficulties associated with running a household. He can sweep up the broken pieces of your lives, marriages, families, careers, and ministries. He can Windex the windows of our hearts and souls for a clearer visibility of Him.

"May there be peace within your walls,

and security within your citadels."

Psalm 122:7 (NIV)

Just give God your broom and access to your household. He will make your life shine.

Blessings to those needing a clutter free life,

Kristie