SMELLING SWEET

We identify many things by their odor. Walking in Grandma's backdoor as an apple pie is baking can be a pleasant experience. At least if Grandma is a good cook, and all things go well, it can be. My Grandma was the best cinnamon roll maker (in the whole world we always said). I took up making cinnamon rolls for my children and now grandchildren. And as long as I don't have overflow dripping in the bottom of the oven things smell pretty good. 

This morning while I was outside I couldn't help but smell the blossoms on our lovely crab apple tree. Such a sweet smell, and this time of year those smells are everywhere. The petals from the apple, pear, peach, plum, and all of the blossoming trees blow from the trees like a flower girl at a grand wedding scattering petals on the vivid green grass.

There is a popular meme that reminds us, "In a world where you can be anything--be kind." 

It isn't always easy to be kind. When others are mean and nasty—that can be difficult. When we are tired and cranky—that can be hard. Some ideas that may help us remember to be kind would be:

• We all have off days. This might have been their's
• Life is too short to let others dump garbage in your life
• There are some people that are jerks, that doesn't mean we have to repay in kind
• Prayer is a good avenue; use it often
• A forgiving spirit permeates like perfumed air, or salt brine

Even when it is difficult. We are to be the salt and the light, and an odor of a sweet smell. 

"and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell." (Ephesians 5:2 ASV)

Hallelujah! What a Savior!