Spreading the Fragrance of Christ

Don’t be fooled by these little, unassuming blooms. Their scent is incredible.

I recently visited my parents. They have a huge yard and a ton of really beautiful things were blooming, but my daddy couldn’t stop talking about the tea olive bush. When he pointed it out, I was unimpressed. With all of the bright, showy things blooming, it wasn’t much to look at.

But, he just couldn’t stop talking about its smell. I reluctantly gave it a sniff. My mind was immediately changed. He was right. Those tiny, unassuming flowers were intoxicating and I just couldn’t get enough. Every time I walked by it, I could catch their glorious scent. How had I missed it before?

I was reminded of an incident as a teen involving a plant and my parents. They had this ugly plant called a Night Blooming Cereus, that sat in the corner of our family room, but they tended it lovingly. It only bloomed in the dead of night, once a year and they often missed it. Yet, they still cared for it.

My daddy often went on about the fragrance it gave off and said that he could tell the minute he walked into the room, that it had bloomed.

Well, one magical evening, it bloomed while we were all awake and you would have thought that my mama had just given birth. She must have taken twenty pictures of it.

As a teen, I didn’t get it, but now I totally do.

I had a friend over that evening and we laughed and thought my mama was nuts. We really didn’t get her excitement. But, some twenty plus years later, I do.

Just like that tea olive in the front yard, there’s way more to this seemingly unassuming plant than meets the eye. With nurture and love, it produces a beautiful bloom and an intoxicating scent. Those who don’t pay close attention will miss it.

I wonder how many blessings I have let pass me by, because I didn’t take a closer look. I wonder how many people I could have helped bloom if I had have been more persistent in prayer and with nurture. I wonder how many people have a beautiful scent to share if I were to lean in a little closer.

I wonder if I give off an inviting fragrance for Christ. When people lean in a little closer to me, are they pleasantly surprised? What about you? What kind of scent are you giving off?

The Bible tells us, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

That tea olive reminded me to not only lean in a little closer to those around me, but to also ask myself how I’m doing spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂