In the last four months, the 30 or so Kindergartners in Bible school became first-graders without us. We never told the story of Hudson Taylor or marched and waved palm branches through the preschool hallway on Palm Sunday. We missed seeing the wonder on the children’s faces when they heard that Jesus is alive. No one attended the end of the year party, and the Kindergarten room has been uncharacteristically tidy.

This probably explains why I noticed the young shopper at Caputo’s pushing her shopper-in-training cart around. The little one was just about the right age for some Kindergartner antics. She didn’t disappoint.

For a while, she happily trailed her mother down the aisles until, right there in front of her was the eye-catching, mouth-watering display of bright orange Utz Baked Cheddar Cheese Balls in big, round tubs with bright blue lids.

What was a shopper-in-training to do? She reached for a tub, hugged it close to her chest and dropped into the cart, clearly pleased with her single purchase that filled the entire cart.

Her mother came up behind her and simply shook her head at her daughter’s cart but didn’t tell her to put it back.

“Those cheese balls aren’t going to make it to check out,” I commented to my husband as we pushed our cart to the checkout lanes. “Her mama isn’t going to let that happen.”

We reached the checkout lanes at the same time, and I couldn’t resist telling the mom what a good mama she was and how much I enjoyed watching her daughter grocery shop.

Sure enough, no cheese balls left Caputo’s.

I wish I had the same assurance as I fill my cart with what I think I need. Maybe that pint of greed won’t make it to the checkout lane today. Unfortunately, greed not only makes it to the checkout lane but also into the plastic bag and all the way home.

Even though I pass on today’s special on gossip, I can’t resist the two-for-one deal of complaining and discontent. I like bargains as much as the next person, but as soon as I spot pride in its original packaging, I don’t count the cost and carefully place two or three or more packages in the cart.

Perhaps that’s the problem. I don’t count the cost, which becomes apparent as I rummage through the clutter in my life. What am I going to do with another jar of greed on the shelf? No worries, I’ll think of something. What’s this bottle of selfishness doing way back there? It’s way past its sell-by date. It still might be good. I’ll set it aside for whenever I might need it.

That creates a whole new problem according to Colossians 3:8-9, "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices."

Sins aren’t to be set aside for future use; they’re to be “put to death” and “put off.” Don’t take on the burden of sin. Jesus has already done that for us. I can take that bottle of selfishness or carton of sour ungratefulness straight to the trash bin—not to earn extra grace points with God, but to live out the graced life I already have in Christ.

As the clutter from sin shrinks, it frees up space for compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and forgiveness. All I need for my daily bread here and the feast to come.