The Trash Can

The end of an era.
The beginning of a new one.
That was the text I sent my family on our family thread.
I sent them a picture as well so they would understand.

It was goodbye to the old trash can.
It was hello to the new one.
Getting a new trash can is not something that usually causes a stir.
However, in my case, I have been the holdout.

Ask my family, and they will tell you what I say about my kitchen.
They will tell you word for word.
A man designed this kitchen, I have said repeatedly.
There are certain things I love and other things that do not make sense.

It is a country kitchen.
I have no intention of redoing it.
My one pet peeve is the trash can.
The kitchen was designed with a pull out cabinet which holds the trash can.

In theory, that might work.
The cabinet is to the right of the kitchen sink.
However, the trash can is very small.
We often have to take the trash out two times a day when everyone is home.

It seems absurd to change the trash can now.
I raised five children in this house.
The trash can was always small.
It was always a problem.

Why are changing it now? My husband asked.
It was a legitimate question.
We didn’t have a grandbaby then or a dog, I answered.
I know he did not fully understand my reasoning.

When the small trash bag got full, I removed it from the pull out rack.
I hung the trash bag on the cabinet door.
I saw no reason to waste a trash bag that was only half full.
The trash bag on the cabinet door worked, in theory.

It worked until our son came home with his Springer Spaniel for the first time.
His dog is well trained.
However, trash smells interesting to a dog.
He trained her to stay away, but those smells were tempting.

My son would always take out the trash bag for me.
Why don’t you get a larger trash can, Momma?
You can put it right over there, he said pointing to an area next to the large pantry.
We have been in this house for twenty-two years; it seemed strange to change now.

We have a granddaughter.
She is pulling herself up on things.
She has found cabinets and drawers quite interesting.
I do not want her to get into the trash.

After twenty-two years, I bought a large trash can.
I put the trash can next to the large pantry.
What will I do with the small trash can? I asked.
Use it for recycling, was the general consensus.

Old habits are hard to break.
For twenty-two years, I simply reached down, opened the cabinet, and threw the trash away.
Now the small trash can has cardboard and paper recycling.
I reached for that cabinet countless times during the day, as if on autopilot.

I decided to put a rubber band on the cabinet and the drawer above.
If I try to open the former trash cabinet, I have to tug harder.
I know by the tug that this is not the trash can cabinet any more.
I have to walk across the room, but having a larger trash can is wonderful.

You might learn their habits and not be able to change. (Proverbs 22:25)

It is very difficult to break an old habit.
Something we have done habitually for so long, is ingrained in us.
It takes us a while to break a habit and relearn a task.
When we are used to doing a task mindlessly, we never think about our actions.

It is frustrating to pull out the cabinet door and realize the trash can is not there any more.
It is a simple task that I have to remind myself to do in a new location.
After repeated failed attempts, I will eventually get it right.
I am anxious for the day when I no longer try to throw my trash away in the old place.

We form habits in other areas of our lives.
When we do something over and over, it is learned and the habit is hard to break.
It takes a while to unlearn a certain behavior.
We tend to go back to those old patterns until the habit is broken.

When the habit is harmful to us or others, we need help to break the pattern of behavior.
God is aware of our struggle.
God’s Spirit is our Comforter, our Advocate; the One who comes alongside.
We lean on Him for strength and help to break our old habits.

I am annoyed at the number of times I have gone to the old cabinet.
Eventfully, this habit will be broken.
This has made me realize how much we need God when our behavior needs to change.
Old habits can be broken with God’s help and with God’s people around us for encouragement.