I ran across a quote today that really made me think:
“We’ll become what we accumulate the most of. Gather love.”
– Bob Goff
Naturally, after reading that quote, I thought, “Hmm. What
do I accumulate the most of?” Being a self-proclaimed minimalist (meaning: I
try to cut down on clutter as much as possible by giving away excess items to
friends/family and donating to the Goodwill so-much-so that they’re probably
thinking I work there part-time by now), I didn’t readily think of anything I
“accumulate” or have in excess just chilling out around my house.
But then, it hit me. Suddenly, and all at once.
There’s that one box.
Full of that stack of stuff.
Stuff that would make complete and utterly-no-sense-at-all
to anyone else looking through it.
Stuff that other people would likely throw away. (Because
it’s not suited for them.)
It’s tailored specifically for me.
But it’s not something I’ll ever outgrow, either. (which is
probably why I’ve kept it all these years)
---
“What is in that box?” (You may be wondering.)
Letters.
Cards.
Notes.
Hand-drawn pictures.
Memories of times gone past that still bring smiles to my
face and laughter into the deepest part of my being.
Words of encouragement and affirmations shared. Some are
child-like, in nature, for sure, seeing as how they came from my former
“kids” (a.k.a. students).
Some are funny. (i.e. “This gift
is for teachur apprecun week. You are the best speeling teachur ever!”)
Some are serious. (i.e. “Miss
Hill, never stop teaching. You picked the right job!”)
Some still bring tears to my eyes,
even after all these years. (i.e. “I don’t know what to say about your grandma
dying, but I can sit and cry with you.”)
Some still touch my heart in the
same way as they did the first day I read them. (i.e. “I SO love you, Miss
Hill.”)
No matter the contents or the writer, all these precious
artifacts are chalk-full of love.
You see, I used to think for a very long time, that my
primary love language was quality time. While I still won’t argue that the
absolute best way to get to know and love someone deeply as time goes by is to
spend quality time with them, I’m beginning to realize that my “other primary
love language” (if that’s even a thing) is words of affirmation.
Over the years, it’s what I’ve kept. What I’ve hung onto.
What I’ve accumulated. And what I’ve become.
It’s not about the letters, cards, or pictures. To take it a
step further, perhaps, it’s not even about the words used to affirm. Rather,
it’s the sweet heart(s) behind those words. The love that I’ve accumulated over
the years.
According to Bob Goff, we’ll become the most of what we
accumulate.
Examine what you accumulate and what you’re holding on to
today, and you’ll get a glimpse of the person you’ll be tomorrow. If you don't like what you see accumulating in your life, make a change. It's never too late. (Plus, I could probably help you out with a route to the Goodwill closest to your home.)
Taken to another and non-material level, God’s Word is full of these types of
letters, artifacts, tokens, and symbols of love. His Word is the sum total of
His accumulative (if you will) love for us.
Are you taking it in regularly?
Allowing it to take up
residence in your heart, mind, will, soul, and life?
Are you holding onto it
today, so that Christ-like is what you are becoming in all your tomorrows?
Be careful what you accumulate, for soon it's what you identify with and shortly turns into who you become.
In other words, be careful what you collect, for all-too-soon, it collects all of you too.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
In other words, be careful what you collect, for all-too-soon, it collects all of you too.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."