Accumulation and Identity

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)

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“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 author 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.

Or as the Gospel-writer Matthew pens Jesus' words in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."