A few days after the Nashville flood, my five-year old approached me and said, “Daddy, can we give toys to the other little boys who got all the water?”

“How cool is that?” I thought to myself.  My kid is volunteering to give away some of his toys to flood victims. So, we rounded up a small box of toys and set it on the counter to take to the church.

Later that afternoon, we were in Target, and my son took my hand and led me toward the toy aisles. He told me we needed to get more toys because he gave his away. A ha! Ulterior motive. At five! New toys for old toys. That is a smooth move.

His heart was actually in the right place. And although he missed the point in the end, he was on to something. He was making room for better things. Old toys for new ones. Giving something that might be perceived as good to create space for something great. Okay, it’s not the best approach for charitable actions, but it is how I need to approach my walk.

God has asked me countless times to let go of certain things in my life. To make space. To make some sacrifices. And in return, he promises something so much better. Something great for something “good” that might not even be all that good anyway. And yet, like most, I grip tightly to my old toys, I pull them in close, I hover over them and slap away anyone who would encroach. Meanwhile, the one who approaches is simply trying to trade out the old ones for shiny new ones. Something of greater value. Much greater value.

Do you have any old toys lying around? If so, pack them up, move them out and make some space. See what God puts in their place. I bet it is much better.  As for my toddler, he didn’t get any new toys at Target. And we never got around to dropping off the old toys for donation. That feels really familiar to me. Getting as close as boxing up the old stuff, but not quite getting it out the door. Being so close to the new toys, yet so far away from bringing them home. Tomorrow is another day, another opportunity to create some space for God to work, to clear out the old and make room for the new. To receive so much more than I give. All I have to do is let go, and let God.

“A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” – Proverbs 17:14