"STUFF"ed Trunk...

In my bedroom closet is a large antique trunk. Originally my great grandmother's hope chest, it once contained her wedding gown and things for the new home that would be established when she married my great grandfather. Eventually, it was passed down to my mother, who used it to store my baby clothes and blankets, and then to me. As a teenager, I kept it in a prominent place in my bedroom and later as a married woman I hauled it from place to place as we changed locations. The last time it was moved, in 2006, we purchased new bedroom furniture. Sleek and modern, the new furniture really didn't go well with the antique trunk so the trunk ended up inside the walk-in closet where it now resides. Moving it was never an easy task. It is very heavy and doesn't have wheels so it must be carried from place to place by two people or placed on a dolly. The lid can no longer be fastened since the metal clasps are warped and its key has long since disappeared. In order to move it, you must hold the lid closed to keep the items stored in it from falling out.

The same may be said for our baggage. You know...that "STUFF" we all carry around with us...shards of painful memories, dusty remains of leftover anger and resentment, fragments of past hurts, handfuls of bad habits, pieces of broken relationships. Like an antique, our baggage is often passed down from generation to generation in the form of verbal, physical, and/or sexual abuse, neglect, abandonment, and painful family secrets. It's old and difficult to carry, but we struggle to carry it anyway. We keep it hidden. After all what would people think? We stuff it in the closets of our hearts and cover it with false pretenses of happiness. We try to forget it's even there. Some of us abuse alcohol, drugs, or food. Some of us abuse relationships. Some of us lash out. Some of us withdraw. Still we cannot forget and sometimes, even when given the chance to get rid of it, we cannot let go. It has become a comfortable part of our uncomfortable existence. We don't have any idea what life would be like without it because it's always been there. So we live with the pain and without the concept of true freedom. Yet Jesus said that He came so that we might "have life to the full." John 10:10 Somehow, I just don't see how we can live life to the full while attached to our baggage.

So what do we do?

• Confess to God. He already knows, but you are taking responsibility for your actions. THIS is where you find FORGIVENESS. But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. 1 John 1:9

• Confess to someone you trust. THIS is where you find HEALING and TRUE FREEDOM. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16

I know what you're thinking..."I can't tell anyone else about my STUFF!!!" That's what I thought too before I did it. Hiding your "stuff" leads to destruction. Sharing the secret removes its power over you. So find someone you trust that will keep your confidence and not stand in judgement of you. Confess your "stuff" and pray through it with them. You'll be SO glad you did!

For more information go to http://www.celebraterecovery.com/