8 Comments

Fantastic story about letting go....I appreciate your willingness to share. I had a similar experience clearing out my mothers belongings a few years ago. Looking forward to next weeks edition.

Expand full comment

Thanks, Mark. Writing about it helped clarify the kindness that I didn't see 7 years ago. I hope you have good memories. 💜

Expand full comment

This was absolutely beautiful. I got very choked up by your thoughtful and vulnerable insights! thank you for sharing, Heather.

Expand full comment

Thank you, Joel. I admit, it was a bit hard to write, but I think Mom would have approved. 💜

Expand full comment

The small details of a life that make up the person. That must have been heartbreaking yet in the moment you saw a lesson. ❤️🙏

Expand full comment

Yes, it was heartbreaking. Yet she left me a lot of memories, some poignant, some funny.

I imagine you can conjure up those sorts of things in your family life as well. It's the stuff of things.

Expand full comment

You made me think of a beautiful song by Michael Card, “The Things We Leave Behind.”

There sits Simon, so foolishly wise

Proudly, he's tending his nets

And Jesus calls and the boats drift away

And all that he owns he forgets

But more than the nets he abandoned that day

He found that his pride was soon drifting away

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Matthew was mindful of taking the tax

And pressing the people to pay

But hearing the call, he responded in faith

And followed the Light and the Way

And leaving the people so puzzled, he found

The greed in his heart was no longer around

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Every heart needs to be set free

From possessions that hold it so tight

'Cause freedom's not found in the things that we own

It's the power to do what is right

With Jesus, our only possession

And giving becomes our delight

And we can't imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

We show a love for the world in our lives

By worshipping goods, we possess

And Jesus says, "Lay all our treasures aside

And love God above all the rest"

'Cause when we say no to the things of the world

We open our hearts to the love of the Lord

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

And when we say no to the things of the world (when we say no)

We open our hearts to the love of the Lord (love of the Lord)

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Oh, and it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Expand full comment

I just listened. Thank you. I needed that. My Christmas gift from Mr. Switter.

Expand full comment