Estate Sales And Such

"I still enjoy a good estate sale..."

Growing up, I couldn’t wait for the weekend to roll around. A favorite hobby I enjoyed was going to estate sales with my grandmother and, eventually, my mom.

Grandma Helen would scour the newspapers and circle the ads of interest with their addresses in ink, and we’d head off on a collector’s adventure. My mom learned to love this hobby as well, from her mother-in-law. Finding beautiful antique furniture, rare collectible glass, fine pieces of China, silver, or jewelry were just some of our finds.

And as an adult, thrifting became a hobby and passion of mine as well. Most of the antiques in my home, or beautiful furniture and bedroom sets, came from purchases made at estate sales. Before we were even dating, my husband, Arthur, asked if I liked the local weekend flea market that housed all kinds of antique dealers selling their wares. Upon my eager response that this was a passionate hobby of mine, we met that Saturday at the Tulsa Flea Market, and the rest is history. We’ve been avid collectors and even antique dealers for over 40 years, with various collections we’ve had: now mostly focusing on and dealing in rare antique books.

While I still love to pop into an estate sale or follow various sellers online, I no longer have room to add any more antiques or items to my home unless they are small purchases. But recently, after attending a very fine estate sale, I had an epiphany. As I walked through the estate sale observing the beautiful collection of antique furniture and goods, I realized the previous owners’ possessions were now just an elaborate and expensive estate sale.

"I had an ephiphany..."

Call it: I’m getting older, but I mused at our own household filled with various collections and wondered: “Will this be what it will be like when we pass away? All our investment in fine things and collections reduced to an estate sale? Our children have mentioned on numerous times they did not want our “brown furniture or fine paintings.” While I laughed, it gave me pause…

We spend a lifetime spending our energy, time, resources, and attention collecting treasures. But at the end of our lives, we cannot take one single thing with us: not a wedding ring or prized piece of jewelry, not an expensive designer handbag or a fur coat, not an antique bed or beautiful carved armoire, not the most favorite and expensive painting, or our special China and silver! No, not one single thing!

Naked we were born and naked we return.

But the thought also begs the question: “Am I and are you laying up greater treasure in Heaven where neither moth nor rust nor time can destroy? Or am I consumed with the things of this world and always wanting more? While there’s nothing wrong with owning beautiful or even expensive things, the question is: “What possesses my heart the most? For where your real treasure is, there your heart will be also.

One day, my life will be reduced to an estate sale of some kind, but when I stand before my Maker, I long to hear, “Well done, My good and faithful servant, now enter into your inheritance in Heaven.”

I pray I have far more treasures in Heaven than I possess in this earth…

"You can't take a single thing with you..."

Beloved:

This life is short indeed, so make it count. While I do not mind you possessing beautiful things, do not let the things of this life possess your heart. Always live in light of eternity and always work with Me to make sure you have a great reward in Heaven where you will live forever.

“But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

“(He) has given us an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in Heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1: 4)