As I mentioned in my previous post โ in a world of endless scrolling, my soul leans towards things that are worth keeping, the things worth slowing down for.
But what are these things?
I’ve also been contemplating what it means to be a keeper of things.
Not just any old “thing,” mind you :) But special things. Like a leftover party hat, complete with pom-pom, added to the corner of a wooden frame. Can you find it below?
I tend to keep things that bring to life memories of truth, goodness, and beauty. Things that call me toward the practice of a healthy mindset, a gentle spirit, and how to welcome others in without prefacing their visit with perfection.
It’s a gift to my future self to keep the things that bring encouragement. When my soul feels weary or my mind feels staticky, I can pick them up and remember what’s important to me. I can sit down for a moment, or tuck into a corner of the couch, and read something that pulls me away from my own struggles and towards others.
It’s true: sweet friendship refreshes the soul, and a good word cheers an anxious heart, and gracious words are healing to the body.
A mindset worth practicing.
More than just me, Maggie Whitley, I am a caretaker of hearts, a hearer of playful secrets, and a Bible reader and reflector. I am a restorative place for my husband to land, and a familiar voice and presence for my children. I am an encourager at heart; an exhorter of what’s good, true, and beautiful. With these roles in mind, a mindset that blesses me all the way to eternity is as follows.
โToday was full and challenging and beautiful, and I gave my family my best. Today, I was a strong woman for my family.โ
Many of you have signed up for a letter of prayer & mentorship through my blog. Since 2002, I have received hundreds of requests and have handwritten just as many replies. If this type of letter interests you, you can click here to submit your request.
By the way, your requests show me you are strong women, too. You are also a caretaker of hearts, and you’re seeking encouragement.
What are the things worth keeping?
The things I’ve decided are worthy of keeping โ within reach in my closet, or on display in our living room, or the cards I keep in my lavender memory box, are centered around a specific theme: encouragement.
They are evidence of a hard season we made it through. (Praise God we made it through!) They are evidence of a season of diligent training, times of rejoicing, and/or times of weeping.
Real-life examples of what I keep:
- A gorgeous black & white striped feather, taped to the wall in the shape of an X
- A bookmark made by a friend’s son
- A card received in the mail during an especially tiring season
- Tchotchkes from a trip
- Letters from a dear friend
- Notes scribbled in the margin of a book
- Play-Doh bowls and jewelry made on a rainy afternoon
- Photos of my family
- The floor plan of our dream home, along with the landscaping and windows, sketched from a crayon borrowed from the local diner
- A favorite magazine issue
- Old journals holding fears and answered prayers from seasons past
- Comfort recipes, stained with vanilla extract (and loved no less)
We keep things that encourage us because we know there will be a day when we need an extra dose. Praise God for those days! All we need to do is pick up the letter or handwritten note and bask in the good words penned just for us.
Analog is always better than digital, and now more than ever we are realizing this to be true.
As Ecclesiastes 3 simply states, โFor everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heavenโฆโ
What is on your list of things worth keeping? Leave a comment below and let me know :)
xx, Maggie
