A few years ago we were packing to attend a conference on the outskirts of Moscow. I was busy packing clothes, groceries, bikes, etc for a 10 day trip and so I told the kids to pack their own toys and books. In the craziness of loading the car, I never managed to double check the kids backpacks to see what they were bringing. I should have been suspicious about Andrew's extremely light backpack as we lifted it into the car. Once we had settled in at the conference and were getting ready for bed, I sent Andrew to go pick a book for me to read to him. He came back empty handed and it was only then that I checked his backpack. Inside were his 2 most cherished possessions: his precious horse chestnut collection and about 16 empty toilet paper rolls. Nothing else. Not one toy, or book. Fortunately he has a brother who took a much more practical approach to packing and so we were able to get through bedtime and the next 10 days on borrowed books and toys.
Now as we prepare for moving companies and garage sales I am drowning in decisions about what to take, and what not to take, what to sell, what to give away and what to simply throw away. Andrew would gladly sell every single one of his toys if he could keep a few chestnuts and paper scraps. Life doesn't work that way and so we will pay movers to ship the Legos and the train sets and not his precious collections. He's taking it very stoically, but I know he's sad about it.
I was thinking about all this this morning and realizing that I'm feeling a great sympathy with Andrew. The things I value most I can't pack up and take with us. How can I pack up all my friendships, the thrill and adventure of living and thriving in a culture different than my own, Katie's ballet class, the friends made at Russian school, the way I still catch my breath as we drive past the Kremlin, even though we do it every week on the way home from church, and did I mention all our friendships? It seems crazy to pay so much money to pack up things and then still feel so empty because I am leaving behind what I value most .
Cooler heads will prevail and we will pack carefully and rationally, but oh, how it hurts to say goodbye to what we can't bring along!
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1 comment:
It's been hard for me to leave places I've lived for only a few months. I can't imagine what it will be like for you guys - but know that home has many different iterations and the consistent factor in them all is the five of you, a loving God and an adventurous spirit.
-auntie mae mae
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