Is It Treasure or Trash?

In my various writings you often hear me quote things my grandmother would say to me when I was a little girl. I am so grateful for the wisdom she shared and passed down to her grandchildren.  During a certain period of her life, she did what was called day work which was another name for a maid.  She had a couple of families where she would go and clean their homes.  Oftentimes they would give her things that when she brought them home, they appeared to be trash, and I would ask her why she accepted it.  She looked at me and said, Wendy sometimes you must take the trash to get the treasure.  I asked her what she meant, and she responded, if I did not take what appears to be trash to them, when they are ready to give away something that might be useful for us, they would not think of giving it to me if I said no to everything else. What I also found interesting is what I thought was trash, my grandmother oftentimes found a use for it. My grandmother was a wise woman. There is a difference from being intelligent and wise, and she was both.

I recently held a small gathering at my home where I encouraged each of the women to bring five items, they no longer felt use for but was still in good condition. They had to be willing to exchange and share their items with the other ladies. In the beginning a couple of the ladies asked why would we do that?  Most of us if we want or need something we can just go out and buy it.  The message I was trying to share is that possibly one woman’s trash might be another woman’s treasure.  Something she may not have even known she wanted or needed or that it would be helpful for her on her journey.  Often, the things we no longer want or need still have value. There was a season in my life when I needed a laptop, but I did not have the funds to go out and purchase one. Someone I knew was in the process of getting a new one and when she found out I needed one she graciously gave it to me.  It got me over the hump, and I was very grateful.  I will never forget her kindness and generosity.

I also learned that closed mouths do not get fed.  In other words, sometimes we must be willing to let others know if we are looking for something or in need. In my situation, what she no longer needed became a blessing for me. Whether it is clothes, electronics, furniture, or even time and skills, the things we let go of can hold tremendous value for others. A warm coat may be collecting dust in your closet, but for someone living on the street, it is a lifeline. A dining table sitting unused in a garage might become the centerpiece for a family working hard to create stability. We live in a culture that often measures worth by how new or expensive something is. But real value lies in usefulness and impact. When we give thoughtfully, we are not just clearing out space, we are investing in lives.

Before you toss something out, pause and ask yourself does it still have a good shelf life that can benefit someone else.  Could it help someone else? That someone might even be a friend or family member who may not know how to share they need it. You may find that your act of release becomes someone else's breakthrough. Treasure does not always have to be shiny. Sometimes, it looks like a laptop, a coat, or a kind gesture, passed from one hand to another, putting a smile on someone’s face because you cared. We can always find purpose in what we are willing to release and let go of for the benefit of helping someone else.

Wendy is The Purpose Partner, Life Strategist, Coach, Consultant, Author, and Speaker.

Healing Without Hate: It's a choice. It's a lifestyle. Pass it on. Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more.