KonMari-ing When You Can’t Get Rid Of It

If you spend any time in the social world – social media, Netflix, talking with others, I’m sure you’ve heard of the KonMari Method. It is this way of simplifying and organizing that encourages you to get rid of anything that does not bring you joy. 

Marie Kondo wrote a book about this idea that she created called “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”  I actually own the book and it gave me a different perspective of what we own. We had recently moved and were still busy unpacking while I was reading this book, and it did make me get rid of yet just a few more things. In fact, I still find myself asking the “does it bring me joy” question often. 

But as this whole idea has run rampant through our culture, and having had NUMEROUS conversations about this idea with so many people since I have this strange love for organizing and living simply, I do have to throw a question out there.

What if you have something that you own or something in your life, that does not bring you joy, but you can’t get rid of? Maybe there is an item or an event that you can’t seem to rid your life or mind of?

I think of those with diabetes, who always have insulin stored away. I think of those who have kidney dialysis 3x a week. I think about those who are bound to a wheelchair. I think of those who have pills to help them get through the darkness of depression. I think of those who are bound by something that they did not plan to have in their life. 

But what if you can’t “throw away” or donate it? 

I think so often we live in this instant gratification mindset that if we don’t like it, we just get rid of it. But sometimes, it’s just not that easy. So what do we do with those “things” in our life?

Well, they tell a much bigger story than we could ever imagine. And I truly believe we can find JOY in the things that we can’t necessarily “Kon-Mari.” When we take a hard and deep look at the things that don’t bring us joy, I think we have to ask ourselves, can there be joy found in them? Or really the better question would be, can we find joy in them, because of Christ?

I know that can be a sensitive subject. It’s hard to be “joyous” for heart disease. For the constant battle. But what I have learned through and because of heart disease, I am joyful. And actually thankful. 

Life can feel more “full,” thanks to the hills and valleys that God allows in our lives. We can experience Christ more fully, thanks to the daily battles we face. Even if there is no end, no cure, or no way of ridding our lives from those things. But you can still find joy! God is waiting to freely give it to us – we just have to be willing to look for the joy in the storm.

Trust me, it’s there. Because that’s who God is. And that’s how much He loves us.

And this is something I am still working on too!