Conquering Your Paper Clutter

It's hard to truly feel at home in a space until you've dealt with the clutter. In this post I will give you five steps to appropriately handle your paper clutter and to help you prepare for the unexpected.

Step 1: Gather together all the pockets of paper clutter around your house into one location; quickly comb through the clutter and eliminate the unnecessary (junk mail, outer envelopes, credit card offers, old newspapers, etc.). Then group the remaining items into suitable categories (ex. newspapers, magazines, bills, reference/research paperwork, items to file …). Next, begin to file what needs to be filed; place bills in a visible and accessible area; and layout your newspapers and magazines in a social area to be enjoyed. If the latter items are more than thirty days old, consider clipping out the articles that interest you and store those clippings in a folder. Last but not least, recycle what remains of your paper clutter. Note: If you haven't already, this is a great time to establish a permanent filing system for your important papers.

Step 2: Once your pockets of paper clutter have been dealt with, it's safe to start pulling out those vital documents you may need if it becomes necessary for you to evacuate your home immediately. Documents that you should keep in a small fire proof box or safety deposit box are: birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, copies of drivers’ licenses, etc. Please take a look at the recommendations provided by the American Red Cross at: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies.html; the peace of mind obtained from getting order in this area of your life will be well worth the effort.

Step 3: If you've completed the first two paper challenges, consider creating your own paper processing center. A place within your home (preferably your home office) where documents are shredded, mail is sorted, paper is recycled, and documents are filed.

To get started, you'll need a trash can, recycle bin, a shredder, a letter opener, a file cabinet or an accordion-style folder, and a plastic bin or basket (labeled "Mail Bin"). Make sure each of these items are located in a place within your office that is easily accessible by you and within your view. Make a commitment to only open mail in your newly created paper processing center. Place mail that requires some kind of action in your mail bin and immediately store any documents--in your file cabinet or your accordion style folder--that may be needed in the future. Lastly, recycle what remains of your paper clutter; and once or twice a quarter consider sifting through your files to shred outdated documents (old bills, receipts, bank statements, etc.).

Step 4: Build an inventory and video of all your expensive household items. Get out your writing pad or smart phone, and begin jotting down the name, serial number, make, model, etc. of all those household items too expensive to replace if there was a fire or natural disaster. Then video tape or take pictures of those items. Store that information in a save place, preferably a fire proof box or a safety deposit box . Granted, we are not to value things, but we do not want our giving (paying to replace items) or our service (busy inventorying what's left) to be hindered by simple steps we could have taken.

Step 5: Last but not least, don't forget to organize your digital papers. Information stored on a computer hard-drive can be just as vital as information sitting in a safety deposit box. You'll want to take time periodically to copy information from your hard-drive to a CD-drive or DVD-drive; then store that portable drive with the rest of your vital records. How often you do this will depend on how often the information you are storing changes--monthly or quarterly should be sufficient. However, if you are running a business you may want to consider an online service that will allow you to not only access, but backup your digital content right from your desktop.

If you have additional ideas, comments or suggestions I would love to hear them.

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Your Someone's Angel

Just recently I was chatting with my mother over the phone when the conversation turned to a young lady who was staying across the street from her and my dad. Now my parent live in a peaceful suburbia neighborhood in which this young lady with three kids was renting a room from her aunt – who was known for taking in estranged family members. This young lady had lost her mother at a young age, and according to her, she really didn’t have a close relationship with her father. As a matter of fact their relationship was so strained he was threatening to have her kids taken away from her—claiming that she was not fit to be a mother. That’s where my mother enters the picture; even though she would have rather stayed out of it--God had other plans.

I would say a new chapter begins in this teenager’s life with her walking up and down the side walk cursing on her cell phone. This didn’t go on for a minute or two, try three to four hours. Neighbors who were trying to enjoy a nice day, quickly found themselves returning to the comfort and sound proof protection of their home. My mom was one of those neighbors who peaked out her door several times only to find a distraught and troubled young lady still walking up and down the sidewalk cursing up a storm. Annoyed and perturbed my mother considered calling the police to put a stop to the nuisance. She thought, if only the cops would drive by and hear the foul words coming from this young lady’s mouth; surely they would have cause to arrest her for disturbing the peace. While reaching for the phone, the Holy Spirit spoke to my mother’s spirit: “Go pray with and for her.” Realizing that prayer may be a better solution than calling the police my mother was obedient to the Holy Spirit and went out to talk to the young lady. When my mother reached her, she asked her if she could pray with and for her, the young lady’s response was “sure.”

My mother prayed with and for her, and then sat down and talked with her—quickly realizing that calling the police on her would have just compounded her problems. Her car had been repossessed leaving her with no transportation to work; her father had taken her kids and kicked her out of his house; she was low on funds with no money to pay anyone to take her anyplace; and last but not least her father was preparing to have her children taken away because, in his eyes, she was an unsuitable mother. Simply put, she was at her wits end and just did not know what she was going to do. As God would have it, my parents had just purchased another car and were contemplating on what they were going to do with one of their older cars.

My mother talked with my father and they agreed they would give her a car. In the process this young lady was able to keep her job, find her own place, and continue to provide for her kids (enough that it met her father’s expectations). In addition, she was introduced to God. I tell you this story, because if we are honest with ourselves, sometimes we want to peek out the door to make sure the coast is clear so we only have to worry about our own problems, and not the problems of others. With the economy as bad as it is, so many people are hurt, frustrated, and in desperate need of the basic necessities of life. And where there is a need, there is most likely a heart that is open to receive your prayers and quite possibly a relationship with Jesus.

God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves, so as we go about our daily lives we should look for opportunities to: “Lift up (encourage and support); build up (provide the resources for growth); hold up (endure with another); help up (serve those in need); and pick up (lend a helping hand).”

Reference: “Balancing Blessings and Obtaining Order” by Sandra Miller.

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