a full closet and a broken dryer

I have taken pride, in the past, about how modest my wardrobe is.  I’m not always satisfied with what’s in my closet, but I’ve tried to be careful about how much I have, give away as much as I can, and limit myself to basics- most of the time.  So when our dryer broke down 4 weeks ago, I was certain that I would need to find an alternative to hang drying laundry every week.  I just thought we’d HAVE to do laundry or we would be wearing nothing but socks, underwear, dirty jeans and worn-out old tees (not that there’s anything necessarily wrong with that). Our boys need laundry done every 5 days based on the amount of clothing they have.  However, I am embarrassed and shocked to say that Corey and I did not NEED any laundry done for 3 weeks!  In fact, I probably could have gone at least another week!! I guess I never realized how much you could put in an old 1940’s house closet!  It has taken us a full week, doing several loads daily to get everything back in order, but I’m thinking that spring cleaning should come a little early this year and it’s time to give away a few more things.

I am excited to try a clothing exchange which I never done, hosted by the women ministries at my church.  But that won’t necessarily reduce the amount of clothing I have collected over the years.  Some people might read this and say- what does it matter honestly, how many clothes you have?  And- they may be very right!  It doesn’t really matter.  What it represents in my life is an ability/inability or life skill to de-clutter or hoard stuff.  And I see in different seasons how I am more apt to give, or more inclined to whine and complain about not being able to buy what I really want.  My closet is just one place I can monitor, gauge, control and visualize this aspect of my life.  I want to learn to be thankful for what material things I have, though at times it is hard- I’m attracted to bigger and better “stuff”, I’ll admit it.  So, I don’t wish my dryer to break down anytime in the near future…but today I will count it as a blessing and reminder of all the ways I am being taken care of.