I finally understand how an onion feels.

Over the last few weeks and months, I have had layer after layer stripped away. My possessions have left…sold, given, or stored.

The first layer was easy. I knew which books I’d never read again. I could easily identify which tools were not going to go with us to Moldova. I realized my hunting trophies wouldn’t store for years.

But as I proceeded, each layer hurt a little more. I gave away old hunting magazines. I sold 90% of my library. I hauled clothes to Goodwill, carried my furniture to other people’s trucks, and sold everything I could in a garage sale. If I hadn’t used it for six months, it needed to go!

Yet I learned something…. Though there is some pain, the more layers you peel off, the easier it is to let it go. Instead of regret, I began to see joy in seeing someone else enjoy it.

When we sold our antique baby scale…the one that Nancy was weighed in as a baby and our three girls used, it was fun to see new parents enjoy it. When I carried our furniture out the door, I was glad it was going to a friend who would love it. When I gave a kid in the church some antlers and furs, it was exciting to see the excitement in his face.

I will confess…material possessions have been too important to me. I would never call myself materialistic. I don’t have boats or four-wheelers, racks of guns, or new vehicles. Yet all the “stuff” in my house was too precious. It took too much space…and I spent far too much money on it all.

As I saw my possessions leave, I had a little vision. All the money that had been spent on things, could have been used for His work. All the time it took to repair, clean, mow, and store my possessions, could have been spent in prayer. The energy I used to keep my things, could have been poured into His Kingdom.

I feel more freedom now. I have more money to give…and I will. I have missionaries I want to support. There are church building projects I want to help. There are people I want to bless. I cannot afford to allow my possessions distract me from God’s eternal work.

I want to give. I want to bless. I want to support.

I think I enjoy being an onion.

Lord…..keep peeling.

Andy Raatz