An Angel On My Street

I met an angel the other day. At least I think so. She is a woman in my neighborhood that became aware of some specific family needs in another town in the valley and thought she would do something about it this month. The husband has less than adequate employment, the pantry is rather bare, and the upcoming holidays look somewhat bleak. She is no different than so many others I have met through the years, but I was made glad because her requests helped me let go of things I really don’t need or want and yet haven’t had the courage to share. (We cling so tightly to our stuff.)

The requests were small: gently worn clothing, unused canned goods, coats that were gathering dust, and toys that were no longer really being used. I knew I had plenty of each of those items stashed in my home, each needing release to bless others’ lives.

As I went through my house, pulling cans from the pantry, finding two pairs of shoes that really don’t work for me, a couple of tops that are warm but don’t fit, and purging the unused games, I felt "cleaned out" and "freshened." We keep so much we really, really don’t need, sometimes because we worry another won’t appreciate our treasures enough to make the sharing worthwhile.

May I suggest that you, too, take just a few minutes this week and find the "angel" items in your house. Start at your front door and work your way around the house with a sturdy bag or box in hand. Gather items from the front closet, the linen shelves, the bedroom drawers, and the storage room stacks. As you fill one bag, tie it off (double knots keep you from cheating), get another bag, and keep on looking for the "angel" items. If you use boxes, tape them shut as you fill them to resist peeking again and being indecisive.

Purge your jewelry, clothes, coats, and mittens. Find unneeded games, books, videos, and music. Let go of your over-abundance wherever you find it in the house, the garage, or the yard. Gather these items, bag them up, and share them generously.

Yes, give, give, give! It won’t cost you a thing, it won’t even dampen your style. In fact, it will help you get organized and ready for the influx of gifts which are surely to come your way soon.

You might even want to get your kids involved, maybe your spouse, and definitely the friend down the street that could lose a few items from her personal stockpile. This is the season to "release" first before we go about gathering all over again. You and I can both gain from losing a few pounds of unneeded possessions.

So look for those "angel" items, gather them in boxes or bags, and then find an angel who is collecting items to share with others. Yes, find the order which returns to your home and soul when you have stripped yourself of what you don’t really need just it time to make another’s holiday bright with anticipation. Happy Giving!