By Diana Dworin
Pass the faith
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/FIGURE 8 PHOTOS Too much stuff?
How clutter can take a toll on your family’s spirituality
I
n some family homes, clutter is everywhere. Closets brim with cast-aside toys and outgrown children’s clothes. Boxes stack up in the garage or basement.
What’s more, some families rent storage units to make room for the overflow. No matter if the items belong to the parents or kids, too much stuff can take a toll on a family’s spirituality. As our belongings grow, they can divert attention and time away from richer aspects of life, such as our relationships. “Our possessions can definitely affect the choices we make and how much we feel like we can share with others,” said Lisa Stark, interim director of the East Valley Lutheran Thrift Shop in Mesa, Ariz., which resells donated house- hold items and uses the profits for grants to charitable causes.
“When people come here to donate things they don’t use anymore, they’re sometimes sad about it,” she said. “But when you get rid of things you don’t need, you open up more room in your life for something better. It’s a spiri- tually healthy thing to do.” Families gain new attitudes about their possessions when they realize: • “Wants” are different from “needs.” While the new- est Barbie might seem irresistible in the store, your child might already have a tangle of blondes at home. Encour- age your family to discern between desires and neces- sities. Warm clothes and nutritious foods? Must-haves. Another pack of Pokémon cards and a giant-sized bag of
Cheetos? Not so much. • You get what you need. As Chris- tian parents, we live in faith that God provides for us. God gives us our daily bread, loving relationships, the planet that sustains us and much more. Remind- ers that we already have “enough” can help form and re-enforce a life-changing trust in God’s provision. • “Stuff” never lasts. The Bible is filled with verses about the unreliable—and ultimately unsatisfying—nature of pos- sessions. Perhaps the most fulfilling aspect of our belongings, though, is our
ability to share them with others, especially the poor, Stark said. Encourage your children to donate their seldom-used toys and clothes to charity. If your child wants to hold a garage sale instead, consider giving a portion of your profits to your church or a social ser- vice agency.
DESIGNPICS Now what?
Too shy to leave the pew
Q: My church has a “Children’s Moment” during worship for the kids to come up front and hear a short story from the pastor. My son is usually too shy to leave the pew. How can I help him gain courage? A: Many churches set aside a portion of worship for a children’s message—and lots of children, like your son, enjoy it from the pews rather than walk- ing up front. Don’t pressure your child to leave your side if he’s not ready. It’s important for young children to feel comfortable and secure in worship so they gain a sense of God’s love and learn that church is a safe place. Ask your child if he’d like you to come up with him for this portion of the service. If he agrees, it could be a transition for making him feel more at home in church. Share your opinion or story at
www.thelutheran.org. Send questions to diana@ passthefaith. org.
Lutheran mom
Dworin, 41, is a mother of three and a former parenting magazine editor.
October 2011 41
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