Messes left behind … I wonder …

Life always presents a beautiful message and opportunity to learn and grow.  Here’s my learning from over the weekend.  My sister and I traveled by plane from different states to Florida to assist my 81 year old mother with clearing treasures.  Our mother expressed several times over the years that she wanted us to come down to her home and assist her with distributing the personal and family chattel that she has enjoyed (or stored) over the years.  Last fall we arranged our schedules and made plans for 5 days of connecting, clearing and sorting.  From the beginning, it became very clear (speaking of clearing) that each of us had a different concept of the purpose of the gathering and how to go about the experience.

Fast forward to the drive to the airport home … what happened and what did I learn? Well, this isn’t funny, until it is.  We spent three full days throwing out garbage, organizing decades of various projects yet to be started – much less completed, cleaning bugs, dirt and dust in the crevices of darkness behind furniture/bookshelves/”units”, sorting books and other household goods for the thrift shop, and laughing hysterically at STUFF and the idiosyncrasies of habit and holding on.  At least, this is my perspective. And did I mention we were only in her bedroom?

My biggest learning – and one that I am applying right now is – Don’t Leave a Mess – for those you loveto clean up after your body is gone.  My sister very lovingly and boldly offered this statement to our oldest bachelor brother who tends to store his stuff like our mother.  I am spreading the word.

Do you have any messes?