Cleaning It Up - (see changes below)

(The woman in this picture is too young for Swedish Death Cleaning. Just sayin')

Have you heard about Swedish Death Cleaning? When I read that I immediately typed it onto my “Things to Research” list. After taking a peek, here are only a few of my thoughts:

In 2017, Swedish author Margareta Magnusson coined this term in her book, “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter.” In this guidebook, she urges those at or older than 65 to get on with this task. Of course, the humorist in me immediately thought, “That’s why the word death is in the title! I thought it might be about cleaning so deeply that people die." (I shouldn't have to worry.)

At 65 years old we’re definitely closer to dying than at 35 (hopefully), so this makes sense. 

The author, of course, presents it kindly, writing that this later-in-life sort of purging will make it “easier for your children when you pass”. My immediate thought? “It’s all about the kids and making it easier for them?! Should we maybe take a step back and see what we’ve done by always putting the children first?" 

Of course, common sense says it’s not only going to make it easier for the children when I'm gone, but I'll feel great before going.

If I’d died before I performed the great purge of 2022 (prior to our move), I’m guessing my kids wouldn’t have grieved my loss for long. If they'd had to deal with all of that, they’d have scooted right past sorrow and skipped to the anger stage in the grieving process. Thankfully, my husband and I performed that pre-death purge, and got to feel our very own self-loathing.  

The author of the aforementioned book presents her way of purging as a great stress reliever. For transparency I’ll admit that I’ll sometimes sit and stare at a mess for a lengthy time, because it’s in the getting started where my laziness lies. Once I begin, however, watch out! I may not enjoy doing it, and I may not feel less stressed in the midst of the purge, but I do feel a terrific sense of accomplishment and peace when it’s over. 

As I was reading more about this sort of cleaning I was reminded about things in my life that I’ve struggled with—some short-lived, others not so much, and something which has dragged on for almost the entirety of my sixty one years on this earth. (Obviously, I’m no longer referring to cleaning with Lysol and bleach.)

Whether we’re Swedish or not we all have issues that need “cleaning up”-- preferably before we die. Whether it be something inside our thought life, a physical challenge we’ve become bitter about, something we're doing that we know is wrong, or an issue with another person--these things can plague our thoughts and leave us defeated. Even more important than our abodes, these are things we need to clean up. But—we don’t have to do it alone!

The battle’s real, and getting more real, but Jesus didn’t come to save us and then leave us hanging like the laundry I often leave on the line just before the rain comes to soak it even more. He didn’t suffer to leave us feeling anxious, stressed, depressed, and angry. He came to do the cleaning for us—for every bit of our negative stuff—and He did it with His death on that cross. When He shed His blood, every drop carried with it the weight of our sin and struggles. 

Similar to when we believe and give our souls to Him, He cleans us up and helps us to live our lives in freedom, knowing that He's there to help us overcome our obstacles, and every challenge.

Will there still be cob-webs to rid ourselves of, and sometimes layers of dust to peel away? Absolutely. Will we still struggle? Yes. But will He give us a way to escape, and then move forward again? Always!

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1&2 - NASB1995)

I get excited and refreshed just thinking about that! He is so good!!

May you feel blessed today, knowing He’s got you!

Pattie

WHAT'S COMING UP: 

1.  Starting in September: I will be emailing you ONE blog per month. It will land in your in-box mid-

month. As well as my thoughts, it will also contain information about what’s happening with my

publications.

2.  I’ve made the difficult decision to pull the trilogy I wrote and published in 2021 (Someone of

Substance) out from the umbrella of Word Alive Publishers. What this means: these three novels will

no longer be available on-line in any format after September 30th. If you’d like to purchase a copy or

copies of these books, I do have a limited stock. Feel free to contact me directly, or through this

website. For the time being, a few of these first edition books will also remain available at EKK

Handmade Store & Gift Shop in Yorkton, SK. 

3. I will be doing a DOUBLE DRAW in OCTOBER! One will be as usual: drawn for all subscribers here. An additional draw will be done on the day of the "Launch and Book Signing Party" for my newest novel release -- YOU ARE ARTEMAS! This is planned for October 11th, at EKK Handmade Store in Yorkton, but I’ll share all the details in the mid-September email!