又到了今年的春日清洁季，我想着需要清洁的不止是一个冬天的污垢尘霾，还有多年累积的杂物。这些杂物有的靠着墙，有的在架子上，还有的在我拥挤的衣橱。

When Spring cleaning season arrived this year I decided¹ that it was time to get rid of more than just a Winter's worth of dust and dirt. I decided that it was the time to get rid of years worth of accumulated stuff as well. This stuff was lining² my walls, filling my shelves, and crowding my closets.

 

This stuff was cluttering³ my home and my mind and not bringing me one bit of happiness. I couldn't even remember how I got some of it, but I knew I wanted it gone.

 

It turned out to be an even bigger job than I thought. Twenty year old bills and receipts were tossed in the trash. File cabinets were cleaned of papers that were no longer necessary or needed.

 

Broken bowls, dented⁴ pans, and cracked knickknacks were finally thrown away. Unworn clothes were hauled out of the closet and bagged up to be given away to the local Goodwill⁵.

 

Old books were boxed up to be passed on for others to read and enjoy. It took several days to get it all done,but in the end I was able to walk through a home that seemed a little less cluttered⁶. My heart was a lot lighter⁷ too. It felt so good to be able to get rid of all the junk and to just focus on the essential stuff in life again.

 

What is the essential stuff? What is the stuff that brings meaning to our days? A loving heart is essential. A joyful⁸ spirit is essential. A soul full of goodness and God is essential.

 

And a lifefull of sharing all of these things is absolutely essential. The essential stuff can't be bought, sold, or stored. It can only be chosen, created, and given away. The essential stuff is the stuff we all really want. It is the stuff we all really need.

 

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