The smell of eggs and bacon cooking
The aroma of freshly cut grass
The pungent odor of food gone bad
Smell is a powerful sense. Just the thought of certain aromas evokes all kinds of memories.
The smell of airplane fuel to most would be pungent and not very pleasant. But to me it was a wonderful “fragrance”. My dad, who was a lead mechanic for Delta Air Lines, for over 38+years brought that scent home with him every day. I loved it! Why? Because it was a smell that made me think of him and know how hard he worked to provide for us. It made me feel secure and loved when he greeted me with a hug after work. God gifted him with his hands; there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix or repair. And he used them not just for his livelihood, but he used them to minister to widows in our neighborhood or family who couldn’t afford to have their cars serviced and the like. Mom never cared for that smell; I’m sure to her it was a chore to get that odor out of his clothes. But to this day, that “engine” smell reminds me of my hard-working, gifted and servant father.
Likewise, the sweet fragrance of gardenias blooming in the spring reminds me of my precious mom. In our house growing up, Dad and Mom planted a gardenia bush when they first moved there (on their honeymoon). That bush grew from a tiny little sprig to a huge shrub with numerous blooms every season. Usually in the spring, Mom would pick a few flowers and put them in a vase. The lovely and fragrant aroma from those flew flowers in a bud vase in our kitchen or dining room filled the entire house. To this day, I still love that fragrance. We have miniature gardenias that line the front of our house. Whenever they bloom and I see them, but more importantly, smell them, it immediately takes me back to my home growing up. Mom had a knack for making ordinary days special. Something about the familiar fragrance of gardenias still reminds me of spring, rebirth and a mom that loved so much that she always went the extra mile to think of “little touches” that made you feel special. Gardenias somewhat represent that for me.
The smell of freshly cut grass takes me back to my growing up years. I think of the corner lot where we lived. It was the gathering place for kickball games, softball and volleyball games, hopscotch, bike rides (before we took off to play “Cops and Robbers”) and just a “hang out” for all of us kids to gather. Dad or Mom always made sure the grass was cut; I distinctly remember working out in the yard with them, either pulling weeds, edging or getting the curb clean. So even now, I think of those fond childhood memories…and how blessed I was to have had a carefree childhood.
Sometimes the aroma isn’t so pleasant. I think of certain pungent odors of medicinal smells that take me back to trials and difficult times. Hospital stays, excruciating news from a doctor or oncologist.
Even today as my hubby is nursing pain in his knee from a Baker’s cyst, I was reminded of the smell of Ben Gay. My poor Gan (my maternal grandmother that lived with us) used it constantly to relieve back pain from broken vertebrae. Back in those days, my guess is that’s about all she had to relieve her chronic back pain. To this day, that smell makes me remember her with love and fondness.
A couple of weeks ago, I was getting ready to host family coming in from another state. As I was cleaning, picking up, dusting and preparing food, I was keenly aware of odors in the air. The smell of onion was pervasive in the house, especially the kitchen. I had already cooked a dish with onion; I knew it had time to dissipate. I searched the refrigerator…nothing that could be the culprit. I went to the basket on the counter where I keep onions, potatoes, etc. I even picked up the two onions in the basket. Again, I could not detect the culprit.
As I kept cleaning and doing things in preparation for company, I couldn’t escape that unpleasant odor! Finally, I went back to the two onions in the basket. One had an exposed bad place, and the pungent odor was unmistakable! That “sore” on the onion smelled up the entire house! That one little tiny “bad spot” took over. Even vinegar couldn’t wipe out that unpleasant odor.
It was a stark reminder to me.
The Bible speaks of fragrance as well. In II Corinthians 2:15, Paul reminds us that we as believers in Jesus are “a fragrant aroma to God”.
First and foremost, our desire should be to create a pleasing and sweet aroma for God. He knows our heart so only HE can accurately discern if we are living our lives in complete surrender and obedience to Him…if we are treating others in a way that brings glory to God. We can’t hide our “stink” or sin from him. He discerns our motives and behaviors better than we ourselves. But have you ever stopped to think that you either omit a pleasing fragrance to the God of the Universe or you give off a stinky odor?
What kind of aroma are you leaving to others?
Do they know from being with you, even if it’s a brief encounter, that there’s something different or unique about you?
The other day I was in a public library, inquiring about using a large room for a private Bible study group of women that I lead. We weren’t going to be studying the Bible; it was our first gathering to meet one another so I was just looking for a good gathering place. But I was told that we couldn’t use the room as we were a “private” group.
As a taxpayer and logical person, I didn’t understand this answer. It was about my 7th stop in trying to locate a spacious and convenient location. My response to the lady in charge was not exactly Christlike. I even commented something sarcastically about “my tax dollars at work”.
As I walked to my car, I was convicted.
The aroma I left with this woman at the library was definitely stinky. I had already mentioned that I lead this small group of women in a Bible study. So, I had to ask for forgiveness, realizing I blew my witness with her.
I couldn’t “undo” my words or my attitude; the fragrance I left was most certainly not pleasant.
I just realize more and more that the “fragrance” I leave behind is extremely important.
Pigpen in the Peanuts cartoon characters has such an odor about him that he’s always depicted with a cloud of dust/dirt and stink around him. It’s truly his trademark. At this stage in my life, I want to be the opposite of Pigpen. I want the fragrance I leave with others to be so lovely and distinct that there is no doubt I belong to the God of the Universe. I want my “smell” and “fragrance” for Jesus to impact others long after I’m gone.
How about you? What kind of fragrance are you leaving behind?
Laura's Lines 