We all have sentimental items – keepsakes that we want to hold onto. There are things that we don’t use on a daily basis – things that aren’t practical – that we value and want to keep. It may be treasured pictures, a tattered book, or some trophies and medals. It might be a stuffed animal, your wedding veil, or your baby’s ultrasound pictures. Perhaps it’s a necklace, a baby blanket, or a set of dishes.
Momentos can be wonderful things. They can spark memories from years gone by and remind us of where we’ve been (literally and figuratively). Keepsakes can be special because of who they’re from or what they represent.
They can even remind us of how God has been faithful in our stories.
Sentimental items can be wonderful treasures.
But sometimes they can feel overwhelming.
Rather than being a blessing, sometimes keepsakes can become a burden. We accumulate too much. We don’t know how to store it, and we feel guilty at even the thought of decluttering some of it.
Today, I want to share with you some ideas for organizing and storing your treasured items in a way that’s simple, minimal, and meaningful. Our stuff wasn’t meant to own us or overwhelm us. We can honor the past while also walking freely in the present. We can steward our resources well.
And here are a few tips to do just that.
How to Organize and Store Keepsakes
1. Decide what’s important to you.
The first step in deciding what to keep and what to get rid of is knowing what’s important to you. What types of items do you value? What do you want to hold onto?
Do you want to save your wedding veil for your daughter? Do you have quality toys for future grandkids? (My son plays with toys his Dad and Grandpa played with when they were little. How cool is that?) Have you saved a box of notes and letters through which you love to peruse?
Do you value practical items? Nostalgic pieces? Souvenirs from around the world?
Choose one or at most a few categories that you wish to keep. That decision will inform your next step.
2. Give yourself boundaries.
Pick your boxes. Perhaps one bin per child or one bin per category. Choose what you want to store things in. Decide the number of boxes you can handle and then don’t add any more unless absolutely necessary.
See your bins as boundary lines. If everything doesn’t fit, something needs to go. Don’t keep adding bins and storage containers unless you have a very good reason to do so.
By sticking to a certain number of boxes and categories, you keep yourself from accumulating more than necessary.
Here are some videos where I’ve learned some of this.
Clear the Clutter and Minimize | Simple Farmhouse Life Podcast featuring Katy Wells
What if you handled SENTIMENTAL items THIS WAY???
3. Depend on the Lord in tricky decisions.
Sentimental items can feel weighty.
On the one hand, if you choose to get rid of a sentimental item, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t value the person or the experience to which it’s connected. It doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t appreciate a gift if you choose to pass it along. As followers of Christ, we are free from unnecessary guilt and fear. We don’t need to be burdened by stuff and weighed down by the past.
However, as Christians, we are also called to walk in love, being thankful and thoughtful towards those around us.
Let’s look to the Lord for wisdom…even in how we organize and care for our homes.
4. Have a system for organizing family photos.
Create photobooks, albums, or frames in which to enjoy your photos. Keep them up to date, and don’t overthink it.
Photos are a great way to remember days gone by, and there are so many ways to treasure them.
5. Store videos on a flash drive.
Home videos can be really meaningful, but they also can take up a lot of computer space. Choose some quality clips, and put them on a flash drive that you store in a safe place. Then you can have them whenever you need.
6. Keep items that represent God’s faithfulness.
God has and always will be faithful. Keep items that remind you of that. Hold onto things that bring you joy and remind you of His goodness and grace.
We can see this a lot in the Bible. Samuel is one example.
1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
God’s faithfulness is always worth remembering.
7. Keep your organization simple.
Organize simply. Know what you have. Know where you’re keeping it, and review everything often.
The simpler our organizational systems are, the more likely we will be to stick with them.
Holding onto sentimental items can be a wonderful blessing for us and our families. They can be keepsakes that we pass on to our children and grandchildren. They can remind us where we’ve come from and of the people and circumstances that God has used to shape us.
They can be a blessing, and not a burden. Our stuff wasn’t meant to own us. We can steward it with freedom and love, remembering that everything we have is a gift from God (1 Timothy 6:17; James 1:17).
FAQ About Keepsakes
1. How do I know what to keep and what to get rid of?
Ask yourself, Do I value this item? Am I acting out of fear or love? Do I actually have space for this piece?
These types of questions will help you navigate this decision.
2. What kinds of organizational bins should I use?
Use what you already have. No need to buy everything new.
But if you are in the market for a new box or bin, here are some ideas.
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