Packing and Unpacking

The summer is upon us, even though the actual calendar date that signals summer hasn’t come yet. Schools are letting out and we have been so programed to equate this closing of school as the beginning of summer, so welcome to summer.  I love to hear everyone’s plans of get away, vicariously living through their itinerary of anticipated fun in the sun and late night moonwalks. Our own family has plans for hands in the sand and splashing and dashing in waves.  Preparation and mobilization is not for the faint of heart but necessary to get to that long desired location.  We hurry up to get to the destination and then try to relax into the mentality “This is the life! I don’t have a job,”. We discover too quickly at the end of our vacation that we have to pack all of those dirty, wet, smelly clothes back into the suitcase. We reload the car, heading home with all of the “cranks”, another word for whoever is whining, murmuring and complaining.  The kids don’t want to leave all of the fun and the parents are wondering how they had gotten all of the stuff in the car on the first end of the trip.  Got to love summer and vacations!
 
Packing for the trip can be so stressful.  You’re left thinking through ALL of the possibilities during the time away.  I would venture to say that for most of us, we don’t even wear half of what we take.  Okay, let me qualify that statement.  For us women, we take more than what we could possibly wear.  Sometimes it would require 3-4 clothing changes a day to wear all of the clothes we pack.  Men, well they are like packing in an overnight bag thinking to themselves “if I don’t sweat too much, I can wear this shirt at least 2-3 times.  The shorts, yes definitely 3-4 times, I will just change the shirt.  Oh and take a nice outfit….I will pack a plain t-shirt with no writing and a pair of better shorts”.
 
With children, packing can be so much easier.  When we were missionaries, during the summer we would go to an annual meeting for a week across the country.  With 5 children and limited room, I tried to make it as simple as possible. I organized each day of the week with complete clothing set in a zip lock bag labeled with the day of the week. .  Actually, I didn’t care which zip lock bag they grab just as long as it wasn’t the “Sunday” bag. That method helped them to be independent and fewer headaches for Darrell and I.
 
Of course with limited room, we had to tie bags on top of our vehicle.  I always packed last so that all of my clothes would be less wrinkled.  Of course I am the one concerned about what my clothes look like.  The very first annual meeting we had to travel about 13 hours across country.  We stopped with other missionaries about half way and spent the night.  Before we arrived at the hotel, we drove in a heavy down pour.  As you can imagine, our bags were not covered and the ONLY clothes that got wet were my clothes because all of the children’s clothes were in those zip lock bags. Needless to say, I was stressed, upset, angry, frustrated, not responding to others very well and living in my feelings and emotions.  Every activity we did that night, with our family and with other missionaries, were clouded by that dumb suitcase and what was packed in it! 
 
In our story of life, we have a suitcase, crammed full of the good, the bad and ugly events and interactions that we have experienced.  Some of the bad and ugly pieces in our life suitcase are stuffed way down deep in our case smelling like stinky beach swim suits.  We carry that suitcase around with us everyday, not always cognizant of our issues until something happens and out floods the memory, emotions and often times, some type of behavior to avoid having to feel the pain.  If this is striking a chord with you, then I am suggesting to you to unpack all of those stinky pieces of clothing that have been dressing you for too long.
 
Here are some suggestions as you seek to clear out that life bag and find healing, peace, restoration and an understanding of just how valuable you are in Christ Jesus.
 
1.Start by praying, asking God to reveal what is in the suitcase that “stinks” and needs to be removed. And if you feel comfortable, ask others to pray for you.
 
James 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
 
Proverbs 2:10-11 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. 11 Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.
 
Romans 11:33  Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
 
2. Couple prayer with the truth of scripture.  Look for verses about God’s healing, peace, forgiveness, love, redemption and the list can go on and on.  Just to get started here are some verses to add to your thoughts:
 
Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
 
Matthew 11:28-29  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
 
3. Put on forgiveness. These three little words are easy to say but not easy to implement.  We forgive ourselves of anything connected to the “stinkiness” and we forgive others for what they said, did, didn’t do…and so much more.  Scripture supports forgiveness.
 
Ephesians 4:32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
 
Matthew 6:14  For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
 
Colossians 3:13 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
 
Let me acknowledge the difficulty of forgiveness.  As a Social Worker for 38 years, with a vast practice experience, I have seen the atrocities that evil can commit on the lives of people of all ages.  However, I have seen the freedom and healing that has been birthed in the lives of people when they have sought to walk in forgiveness. The act of forgiveness releases the perpetrators to God for His justice and liberates us from the hold the person/act has over us. 
 
**Important to remember: Sometimes, we need professional help by skilled clinicians/therapists that can help us to navigate the stormy past.  It takes courage to reach out for help. It may be best to seek help to have someone to walk the path with you.
 
If I can ever be of any assistance, please reach out to me.  I leave you with this verse.
 
Roman 15:13  May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
 
Blessings,
Karen