Lent 6: Release

The calendar picture is a little late - because I took it down from the hook in the kitchen, and then couldn't find the 'safe place' where I had put it!It turned up on Tuesday, when Julian was helping me go through the stacks of kitchen stuff in the back bedroom. 
It seemed a very apposite message - not everything that came out of my kitchen cupboards is going back! I even managed to let go of a beautiful NordicWare Bundt pan.  On sale at £50, it cost me £5 in a CS, but I have never used it [it was 'as new' when I got it] And my gran's glass jug [never used, as I was always afraid I might break it!]

There is no point in hanging onto things like this. They can go and bless others. But more than material items, it is important to let go of other 'stuff'

• bad, hurtful memories
  
• grudges or ill feeling because of past slights
• aspirations you will never realistically achieve 
• worse, aspirations for your children [they may not want to be doctors or lawyers or whatever]
• envy because you do not have as much money as someone else
• resentment because age or health is limiting your activities 

As we get older, we need to let go of things which have may been an important part of our lives in the past but we are just not able to do them anymore. Maybe we don't have the stamina, or the flexibility for the activities we enjoyed in our youth. We need to learn to  let go of these things with grace, rather than resentment

I spoke with a lovely lady on my Hospital Volunteer Visit this week. She is a widow, with no children-or grandchildren - she asked the head of a local school if she could give an Easter Egg to every pupil. She's done this for a number of years. The village children speak to her when they see her on her mobility scooter. She was so bright and cheerful [even in a hospital bed]  

In her eighties, she reluctantly had to give up knitting because she can't manipulate the needles anymore. So she gave her wool stash to a knitting group - and also made a donation to a group which provides "angel blankets" for mothers of stillborn babies. Rather than become embittered by her lack of family, and her loss of craft skills, she is using her resources in a positive way. She's making an impact.

I had a friend who used to say of things she was letting go of"it was mine for just a season, but now that time has gone". Release what is past to make room for what is to come. It will sometimes take courage. Don't dwell, don't dither, step out in faith.

Who knows what that new found freedom may bring?