What Do You Smell Like?

         

My thirteen year old granddaughter, Morgan, has a heightened sense of smell. My father did, too. He claimed he could tell what we were having for supper three blocks away from home. Before I started having allergies, my nose used to be sensitive, but not nearly as fine-tuned as either of theirs.

          Morgan, who lives four hours away from me, sat next to me in our recliner on their last visit home. She leaned toward me and took a big sniff. It kind of repelled me at first, but then she explained she loved my smell. I asked what I smelled like, but got, “I don’t know. You smell like you.”

          Over the years I had heard that animals use their sense of smell to help them survive. My husband raises beef cattle so I focused my research on cows and I found some amazing facts:

·      Cows' highly sensitive noses can smell odors up to six miles away.

·      They use smell to recognize their herd mates, especially their babies, and to recognize humans.

·      Cows can smell fear in the urine of other cows.

·      When hit, slapped, or shouted at, the stressed cow will send a smell warning to other cows to stay away.

·      Milking time should remain calm and consistent, and be lacking in unpleasant odors. It’s true, happy cows do give more milk.

What do I smell like? Here’s what sent my thoughts in this direction this morning. My morning Quiet Time scripture was 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 (NCV):

¹⁴ But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s victory parade. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume. ¹⁵ Our offering to God is this: We are the sweet smell of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost. ¹⁶ To those who are lost, we are the smell of death that brings death, but to those who are being saved, we are the smell of life that brings life. So who is able to do this work? ¹⁷ We do not sell the word of God for a profit as many other people do. But in Christ we speak the truth before God, as messengers of God.

              I went to church with a man who always wore a certain brand of after shave. He hugged me one Sunday during greeting time in the service and for the rest of the day, when there was the slightest breeze or hint of moving air, I could smell the scent he left behind.

          This verse makes me wonder what I smell like as I interact with people. Do I wear the sweet smell of abundant life that comes from my relationship with God? When I start my day hugging God, do I carry His scent with me all day for others to experience and desire? 

          What about you? What do you smell like? 

Going out with joy today-

Cathy