And why grace is so important to organizing.
When I started Grace to Organize, I hoped to change lives through helping others organize and declutter their spaces. I feel like God has used me to do just that, but He’s also shown me so much that has also changed my life.
I wouldn’t have started Grace to Organize without… well, grace. What is grace? Often described as “undeserved favor” or a blessing before a meal, grace, to me, embodies much more.
Grace is the ability to do something with natural ease. It’s also having the kindness and understanding required in delicate circumstances.
My birth name is Charissa, derived from “Charis” in Greek, meaning grace. It wasn’t until I was about twenty-four years old that I began to see myself as Grace and reflect on the significance of the word. So, when people ask, “Can I call you Grace?” I wholeheartedly respond, “Yes!” In fact, in 2021, when I married my husband and changed my last name, I began introducing myself as Grace. It’s what I want to embody in my daily life and with those around me.
One of my favorite times when I saw grace at work in this way was with a client whose daughters had found me online to help her get ready for a house remodel. She’d been in this home for over thirty years at this point, and needed a change to move forward with the next phase of her life but didn’t know how to get started.
Little did I know that this would be one of the greatest ways grace would show up for myself.
I worked with her once a month for over a year, showing up to help her work through a whole life’s worth of challenges. Every session ended with an outpouring of gratitude and love from her in ways that my heart needed at the time. So, we were showing each other grace–but it didn’t have to be a big deal. Words of love and encouragement when we both needed them most. An understanding that no matter what you’ve been through in life, you can always take another step forward.
One morning I showed up to her house and she had fresh cut flowers for me. I invited her to my wedding, and we have been friends ever since.
The Turning Point: From Uncertainty to Clarity
In 2017, I was nearing graduation from Charis Bible College and found myself grappling with a daunting question: “I’m a community college dropout with no career plans… What am I going to do with my life?”
Attending Charis was a decision driven by a desire for personal growth, without any clear career trajectory. During this time, a mentor’s advice became a pivotal moment: “Make a Facebook page for anything you’re good at.” I created two pages—one for childcare and one for organizing.
Within a month, I had two inquiries asking if I could organize for them. My enthusiastic response was, “ummm, yes!”
One of my first organizing jobs was for a woman who lived about an hour away from me. On the drive home after our session, a powerful conviction took hold of me: “This is what I am made for.” The realization that I had been hoarding my gift for organizing felt like a mic drop moment, challenging the direction of my life. Organizing isn’t something I do; it’s part of who I am.
The Revelation: Discovering My True Calling
From childhood, I had a natural inclination for organizing. I sorted canned vegetables in my Grandma’s pantry at six years old and organized friends’ closets during middle school sleepovers.
I remember organizing at every “regular” job I ever had. Sometimes, I would even avoid tasks that were part of my job description to clean or organize spaces. Closets, desk drawers, breakrooms, inventory shelves—nothing was off-limits. My bosses and co-workers loved me for it.
This gift is in me and–as I came to realize–is worth sharing with others. The ironic thing about being gifted in something is that you assume everyone else is wired the same way. It wasn’t until I started offering my services that I understood how much people needed and valued my organizing skills.
Like the woman who had lost her daughter and who had been unable to move forward because she was left alone to sort her daughter’s things.
No one should have to suffer the pain of losing a child, but to have the challenge of sorting through their things on your own is a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Which is why I am so grateful that I was given the chance to step in and help.
We only worked together a couple of times, but the impact those sessions had will stay with me forever.
She was still grieving the loss of her daughter, but she began sharing anyway. She wanted to try to process what had happened, and the fact that I was someone outside her normal world gave her the confidence to do it.
I let her talk as my hands moved over the vestiges of a life lost while another life continued on. She shared stories of joy and love, as well as many tinged with sadness.
We cleared out her daughter’s old room and a few other things in her house. She wasn’t ready to part with her daughter’s things, but putting them away helped her to be able to start moving forward with her life. I wanted so much to comfort her through her tears, but grace helped me realize that I was doing that by being there. Sometimes that’s all a person needs.
The Heart of Organizing: More Than Tidying Up
Clients hire me because they need accountability, physical help, or a fresh perspective. Many have told me, “I kept telling myself I would get to this project one day, but it’s been four years, and I’m just not going to do it without help.” Others, like one client with severe arthritis, need physical help to tackle projects. Overwhelmed with life’s demands, some need someone to help them catch up and breathe a little.
The beauty of my job is that every client is different, and every space is unique. This variety keeps my work exciting and fulfilling. Organizing is creative; it’s all about trial and error.
In my own home, I constantly look for ways to improve spaces. I have no fear of being wrong. I try new methods, and if they don’t work, I try something else. Many clients seem paralyzed, waiting for the “right” system or the perfect solution, which often leads to inaction. My advice? Keep practicing. Organizing is about giving grace to yourself and others. Creativity flourishes when you let go of the need for perfection.
A Journey of Grace: Reflecting on the Past and Looking Forward
One of the most influential people who helped me get started was legendary organizer Sue McMillan of the business With Time to Spare.
Sue was one of the first organizers to get started in this relatively young industry. She has over thirty years of experience, and has traveled the country helping large businesses organize their spaces by hosting organizing seminars and then helping them implement her strategies.
In a moment of boldness I sent her an email asking if I could take her to coffee to learn more about how to get started.
Sue took it one step further and invited me to her home where she graciously let me pick her brain, not gatekeeping a single thing. I could tell that she embodied grace in her life too, and when it was extended to me it left a lasting impact.
“You just need to start,” she said, cup of coffee in hand. She could tell that I was in my head, overthinking everything as I considered doing this.
As I sat on her couch, gazing out the window at the many different kinds of birds fluttering about the feeders she had hanging on the porch, I felt like anything was possible. Seven years later, I know that to be true.
As I reflect on over seven years in business, I am filled with gratitude for the journey that led me here. Grace isn’t just my name; it’s the foundation of my approach to organizing and life. Each space I transform is a testament to the power of grace in action, turning chaos into order and stress into peace. I look forward to what the future holds, one organized space at a time.
Do you know someone who could benefit from some grace in their lives? I’d love it if you shared this blog with them! And, don’t miss our previous post on amazing places to take donations if you are decluttering this Summer.
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