I’ve been lurking for some time at The Gypsy Mama and considering participating in her 5-Minute Fridays. The idea is that you write, unfettered and unfiltered, for five minutes. Each week, The Gypsy Mama provides a different theme. Figures I’d have decided to participate this week when the theme is “Empty.”

All week long, I’ve been concerned about full–how full the bins are getting–how cluttered things are. I felt we were holding to things lightly. After all, didn’t we sell everything we had when we decided to move to China almost four years ago? And yet here I am, cramming things into bins. I realize, a lot of it is vitamins–a year’s supply for five people–and we have four seasons’ worth of clothes and shoes, and books, books, books.

If we didn’t homeschool, it really wouldn’t be a problem. But how could I consider not homeschooling? Homeschooling has become not just what we do, but a part of who we are. It’s part of the core values of our family.

Where in all of this is empty? Lately, it has been easy to start to stress out. My son yesterday expressed some concern we wouldn’t get everything ready in time. My mother is troubled by the state of chaos in the room I’m occupying until we leave in , a.k.a. Packing Central. Every morning I’ve awakened with a sense of urgency about something unfinished. I haven’t slept much with the late night and early morning conversations with my husband during hours when he’s available to catch up with me in China.

In the midst of all of this, it’s my soul that has been tipping near the empty point. I felt it yesterday–the temptation to become easily annoyed, the exhaustion creeping in, the despair at all the clutter.

So I finally took the time I’ve been needing to restore my spirit, to refresh and renew in the presence of the One who faithfully fills me. And I’m no longer empty. I am filled.

Now to see about those bins.

STOP.