What's that smell?
Yumm, my husband is cooking bacon in the kitchen. Now I’m hungry!
A possible side effect of COVID-19 is loss of smell. This important sense is one of our built in pleasure and alarm systems. Food increases appetite and smoke alerts us of fire.
It’s easy to point out bad smells around us, but sometimes it is us! Sometimes WE smell bad, but we don’t know it. Whether we are aware our own scent, we are giving off an odor that affects others around us. Our scent can either repel others or draw them to us. We can smell really good or really bad.
How do we know if we smell?
If we can’t smell ourselves, we can ask the people around us. They know what we smell like. People don’t hang around outhouses. Crowds are drawn to hot chocolate chip cookies, good coffee, meat on the grill. New moms cherish the irresistible scent of their newborn babies. Horses are one of my favorite smells.
No one wants to smell bad, so why do we?
Remember Phoebe’s song, “Smelly Cat,” from the TV show Friends? The lyrics went like this: Smelly cat, smelly cat, what are they feeding you? Smelly cat, smelly cat, it’s not your fault!”
People can suffer from smelly breath, smelly body odor, smelly feet, smelly gas. Almost anything on our bodies can smell and it may indicate that something is wrong. We may have an infection or a foreign body lodged where it isn’t supposed to be. Smelly cat needs to go to the vet. We may need to jump in the shower or throw our clothes in the washer. We may need to get help from a professional, like a doctor or a counselor. Maybe they can help us with antibiotics, surgery, a change of diet, or a fresh perspective.
We might “stink” for another reason. Fighting, arguing, and jealousy make us unpleasant for others to be around. People want to run away.
We all smell bad sometimes, but our odor can change.
Two good women in a Greek city will forever be known for their quarreling. Gospel writer Paul called out Euodia and Syntyche in his letter to the Philippians, publicly begging them to get along. These weren’t bad women. He loved them and acknowledged their loyal service. But, their disagreements were hurting the church. God’s people are called to unity. We don’t need to be alike, but we need to get along.
How can we make sure to smell good?
Shortly before Jesus’ crucifixion, He was invited to a dinner party with some of His best friends. One lady named Mary prepared an extravagant gift. She purchased an exquisite perfume worth about a year’s wages and poured it on Jesus’ feet, wiping it with her hair. She went low to lift Him up. John tells us that, “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” Others criticized her, but Jesus stood up for her and told them to, “Leave her alone.” Jesus said that the story of her gift would be told forever, all over the world.
Gratitude can make a whole house smell good.
Love and forgiveness are powerful. It looks like serving others, giving gifts, and using words that build up and not tear down. It might mean letting go of a wrong so that it doesn’t fester. Gratitude is one of the best cures for a stinky attitude. Recently I received the fragrance “Happy” by Clinique. Every time I spray it on, I remind myself to walk into the day choosing gratitude and joy. Sometimes my good attitude wears off quickly and I have to start over. God is pleased when we act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him.
One word of warning: sometimes other people will not appreciate the aroma of Christ in our lives. That is out of our control. We can only make sure that we do our best to live at peace with everyone.
Walk in the way of Love.
“Love is never wasted, for its value does not rest on reciprocity.” —C.S. Lewis
With wisdom and maturity come freedom. We can walk in the way of love by being kind and choosing forgiveness, even when it’s costly and difficult. That always smells good.