Well, its that time of year that everything gets packed up again.

It started yesterday in our home, three days after the new year. 

There have been years when the packing didn’t start until a week into the year, but there are other factors at play this time. The bottom line is if Christmas doesn’t get packed up now, it will be weeks before there is an opportunity to get at it again.

I have to admit that I’m not the main packer in our home. My wife, Lily, takes the lead and the bulk of the job. I’m just there for a little grunt work and some moral support – and I’m a little light on the moral support, to be truthful.

We don’t have tons of storage in our house, so the fact that Lily has skill and lots of experience in packing is a good thing. 

I’ve helped move a lot of people in my day and people have very different ideas of packing. 

I’ve arrived at people’s houses to help them move and their place looks like everything is still in its place. They think they are ready to go, while I wonder if they have ever heard of boxes. Please pack your stuff in boxes before I get there!

Our son pulled that once. Though, to be fair, he’d never moved before. Lily asked him if he was pretty much packed up. He assured her that his apartment was all ready to load into the van. 

I liked hearing those words. But when we arrived, you would have thought he was just getting settled into the place. 

Well, he knows now what getting packed up is all about and for his last move he was ready.

But Lily is a master packer. The proof was in our move from Edmonton to Kingston. She had about 100 uniformed boxes, just the perfect size for carrying. Light ones could be stacked and carried. Heavier boxes were not too heavy for one person. 

The day we moved into our Kingston home, she stood in the doorway as our helpers brought the boxes in. She looked at the number she had marked on the box, looked at her master sheet and directed them to the exact room where the box was to go. 

Packing up Christmas is no different in our house. Some of those same boxes she used 25 years ago are still the off-season home for decorations, ornaments and trimmings.

It’s a lot of work. I couldn’t do it like she does, but it has to get done now. She is running out to time. 

Our daughter and son-in-law are moving to a new place in less than two weeks and guess what? Lily has been hired to help them get packed up for their move. 

I haven’t seen the contract yet, but I’m sure the payment will be time spent with Karlie and Matt. 

Here’s the thing: What state are your affairs in right now? If your time was up, are you packed and ready to go? Would you have everything in your life in order, ready to meet God? Or would there be a mess that still needs to be cleaned up? It will be too late at that point. Be sure that your life is in order now, so that you are ready when the time comes.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What needs to be packed up in your life right now? Leave your comments and questions below.

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