As part of my healing and recovery journey, I am currently working through the clutter we’ve accumulated over the years. Decluttering is a mindfulness exercise that is said to reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing. It brings peace where there is chaos.
Do you have any collections?
The answer is yes—I have a few. Baseball cards. Coins. Stamps. Some first edition books. A mix of other odds and ends. Once, they meant something vivid. Pieces of history, nostalgia, or curiosity, lovingly gathered over time. Now, they sit mostly unattended. Quiet. Waiting.
Lately, I’ve been decluttering—our sunroom, our garage, our storage spaces. Really, if I’m honest, I’m trying to declutter our lives. I wonder: will creating more space help me tend to these collections better? Will less chaos allow more clarity—more care?
That question took an unexpected turn when I thought about my sister-in-law, who passed away last year. She was known for her collections—crosses, nutcrackers, and a whole host of other things. Each item meant something to her. Maybe a memory. Maybe a moment. Maybe just a smile. And yet, now that she’s gone, I find myself asking—what use are they now?
It’s a tender thing, this business of collecting. We gather. We keep. We treasure. Sometimes we forget. Sometimes we outgrow. Sometimes we inherit the things others held dear, not always knowing what to do with them.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19–21 (NIV)
But maybe the point isn’t in the keeping. Maybe it’s in the story. The love that went into collecting. The quiet joy of finding that one special piece. The hands that held them. The moments they marked.
Maybe the things themselves aren’t the legacy. Maybe it’s the meaning we attach to them—and the meaning we let go of, too.
So yes, I have collections. And I’m learning to ask new questions about them. Not just what do I have?—but what do I need? What still gives life? What can be passed on?
In the clearing out, I’m finding space not just for my stuff, but for my soul.
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Praying you live well and love well.
Until my next post…
Be salty, stay lit.
Rainer Bantau —The Devotional Guy™
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The Devotional Guy™ 
That’s so interesting, Nic. Your reply is really giving me quite a bit to think about, as do the other comments this post has received. I spent a good part of the day yesterday thinking more about the process of decluttering—the things we keep and the memories associated with them. It’s really cathartic in a way. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
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It’s the memories for me but I’ve found lately that some things I kept I don’t need any more. I’ve let them go. I’ve been having a de-clutter over time but there’s still a lot especially as we have inherited precious items which meant a lot to loved ones no longer here. It’s those ones that meant a lot to them that are hard to let go. Sadly most items are in cupboards so I’m looking for ways to make space for them so we can enjoy them and the memories.
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Hallelujah and amen.
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Same! 🙌🏻 keep up the deep work – and keep lighting the path! We are NOT alone!
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You‘re welcome. Thanks so much for reading and thinking about what I‘ve shared. Legacy is a word and concept that I think about a lot. What am I leaving in my wake? Who am I impacting (hopefully in a positive way)?
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“Maybe the things themselves aren’t the legacy. Maybe it’s the meaning we attach to them—and the meaning we let go of, too.”
Legacy has been my “word of the day” for several earth born days … I’ve really been meditating on the meaning. Thank you for this thoughtful and tender retelling … of your “collector” journey. I’m definitely feeling the “letting go” part I quoted above – thank you 🙏
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Ha! Good to know, Loring. I believe the sentimental value or nostalgia surrounding some things does play a large part in some of this. We keep things because they evoke a strong memory. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Yes, it’s the meaning. That’s why I kept a the prize out of a Cracker Jack box from a ball game on my desk for years.
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