Comments on: Living Lighter, Living Larger http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html Looking for the 1st century Church in 21st century America Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:58:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Rose http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34434 Rose Sun, 03 Feb 2008 16:25:08 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34434 I'm working on it, but I fear it falls on deaf ears. I was particularly touched by your post because I grew up with a feeling that the "stuff" came first. Piles here, piles there, and don't touch anything or watch out! I write this at my mother-in-law's kitchen table, taking a break from trying to sort out my father-in-law's stuff. Everything is a mess. When my grandmother died, her surviving children nearly went 8 rounds over a butter churn. A butter churn! What a legacy. I often ask myself how I want to be remembered. I hope that when my children look back they see a mom who kissed owies and wiped tears, helped them learn and taught them about Christ. I do not want them to see a mom who sat long hours in front of email (or anything else that clouds my focus), but I confess it is a daily struggle to tear myself away from the inconsequential things of this world. I’m working on it, but I fear it falls on deaf ears. I was particularly touched by your post because I grew up with a feeling that the “stuff” came first. Piles here, piles there, and don’t touch anything or watch out!

I write this at my mother-in-law’s kitchen table, taking a break from trying to sort out my father-in-law’s stuff. Everything is a mess.

When my grandmother died, her surviving children nearly went 8 rounds over a butter churn. A butter churn! What a legacy.

I often ask myself how I want to be remembered. I hope that when my children look back they see a mom who kissed owies and wiped tears, helped them learn and taught them about Christ. I do not want them to see a mom who sat long hours in front of email (or anything else that clouds my focus), but I confess it is a daily struggle to tear myself away from the inconsequential things of this world.

]]> By: Dan Edelen http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34416 Dan Edelen Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:42:55 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34416 Fred, Yeah, we lost my folks right as their grandchildren were being born and that truly stunk. My brothers and I would have given anything to have kept our parents around a few more years to enjoy their grandkids. Fred,

Yeah, we lost my folks right as their grandchildren were being born and that truly stunk. My brothers and I would have given anything to have kept our parents around a few more years to enjoy their grandkids.

]]> By: Dan Edelen http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34415 Dan Edelen Sat, 02 Feb 2008 18:41:28 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34415 Rose,I highly encourage those of us with parents pushing into their 70s to convince them to divest themselves of inheritances now rather than when they die. So much grief can be avoided and so much work! My parents died within four months of each other and left me to handle a nearly impossible load. In some ways, that has permanently altered the course of my life. Don't follow in my footsteps in this. Encourage your folks to distribute as much as they can now so that their estate is minimal. Rose,I highly encourage those of us with parents pushing into their 70s to convince them to divest themselves of inheritances now rather than when they die. So much grief can be avoided and so much work! My parents died within four months of each other and left me to handle a nearly impossible load. In some ways, that has permanently altered the course of my life. Don’t follow in my footsteps in this. Encourage your folks to distribute as much as they can now so that their estate is minimal.

]]> By: Fred http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34369 Fred Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:22:58 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34369 Dan, You're right. People are the most important. I inherited a whole bunch of stuff, and gave more away because we didn't have room, from my parents when they passed away. I'd rather have them back. Dan,

You’re right. People are the most important. I inherited a whole bunch of stuff, and gave more away because we didn’t have room, from my parents when they passed away. I’d rather have them back.

]]> By: Rose http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34367 Rose Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:20:24 +0000 http://ceruleansanctum.com/2008/01/living-lighter-living-larger.html#comment-34367 The running joke in our family is that my inheritance is out in the shed. Sadly, it is too true that the shed (and the garage, and a friend's garage) is packed with stuff that has followed my parents across the country and back again. The running joke in our family is that my inheritance is out in the shed. Sadly, it is too true that the shed (and the garage, and a friend’s garage) is packed with stuff that has followed my parents across the country and back again.

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