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Don't Buy Spinach in Bulk!

Here on Long Island our local wholesale buying club is called BJ’s. It’s like Sam’s and Costco. Pretty much everyone I know buys at these wholesale monsters. The prices are usually better, but the catch is they require buying in bulk. The problem comes in when you don’t have the space to store all the loot that seemed so appealing and desirable in the store. Who has the space to store 18 roles of paper towels, 36 roles of toilet tissue, oatmeal in bulk, or all the other things we lug in?


A few months ago, while shopping for groceries in BJ’s, I spotted a big package of frozen chopped spinach. The big bag contained 3 “smaller” bags that each contained about one pound each. One of my planned meals for the week called for frozen spinach. So, why not buy enough for future meals that might per chance call for the spinach. Great idea, right? There is, however, one complicating factor. When I lived in Tennessee, we had three, yes three, refrigerators, and 2 freezers. It was great. Now in my new home I am limited to one refrigerator. We did manage to procure a small freezer that hold only slightly more than a picnic cooler. So, storage of cold and frozen grocery items are a challenge, especially if bought in bulk.


So today after grocery shopping, I was doing the clean out the frig, shuffle things around, combine containers, and whatever it takes to fit in the groceries I just brought home exercise. I went to the freezer to see if anything had miraculously disappeared, thus freeing up some space. Lo and behold, there it is, the spinach! Months after buying it I still have two and one half bags left! They continue to take up valuable space in the tiny freezer. Every week I have to reconfigure the freezer space trying to utilize every square inch. Every week I regret buying that much spinach. I keep having to cram it in and slam the lid on top. Ultimately I will have to figure out a way to use it or break down and throw it away.


As I once again moved the frozen items around and hoped the lid would shut, I thought about how like my life the freezer and the spinach are. I am filled with stuff that take up too much valuable space in my my heart, my mind, and my life. Some of the things are physical. The things that take up way too much time and energy trying to maintain, arrange, repair, pay for, or just trying to hold on to them. Then there are the emotional things that I keep cramming down one more time holding on to them like some precious possession reluctant to give them up once and for all. How many unresolved feelings lie there just below the “lid”? How much unforgiveness, bitterness, disappointment, and regret keep taking up space that should be filled with joy, peace, and contentment? How many blessings do I continue to hinder because there is no space left?


So like the spinach, there has to be a decision made. Do I keep pushing down, reconfiguring, and hanging onto the useless things, or do I get rid of it once and for all? If I don’t, they are just going to keep showing up, reminding of me what needs to be done. It’s going to keep requiring energy to move it around. Like the lid on the freezer, I’ll keep cramming the stuff inside so it will close. Then from the outside you would never suspect the mess inside.


Scripture tells us that God lives within us through his Spirit. He dwells in us! There are tremendous blessings to be had by allowing the Spirit to live in us, guide us, and comfort us. I think I want to know that He has room to work in me. I want to throw out the things that take up space that He should have. I want to pitch the unforgiveness, bitterness, jealously, pride, and pettiness that takes up valuable space. I want the Spirit to have plenty of space to move about in me and do what He needs to do and mold me into what God would have me be. If I’m overflowing, I want it to be love, kindness, peace, patience, contentment and joy that are responsible.


So I say, throw out the spinach! Throw out the stuff! Make room for God and all that He has to offer if we just give him the space.


Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.



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