2 Corinthians 2:15 (BSB)
For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
I have always enjoyed the smell of a good candle, so when I was given a lilac-scented candle, I was thrilled to burn it because I knew it would not disappoint me. Not only is lilac a relaxing smell, but its sure does get rid of undesirable odors quickly. Nothing is more engaging than a pleasant odor: the smell of the ocean, the smell of a garden, or the smell of the one you love … these are enticing aromas that often serve to reconnect us to things that are good.
The lilac communicates by way of its smell, and it’s known for many medicinal qualities as well. People have used it to treat fevers, stomach ailments, infections, and even depression. Well, just as this flower communicates through its smell, we too have a fragrance.
Have you ever been in a room with a group of people where everyone is enjoying themselves, and then in walks Debbie Downer, Negative Nancy, Mad Brad, or Crazy Charlie? You can actually feel the energy shift in the room when they enter it. You can almost smell the negativity.
Keep in mind that the only way we can avail ourselves of the medicinal effects of the lilac is to crush it. Like that plant, many of us have been crushed and hurt, but how we choose to go through the process makes all the difference in the world when it comes to whether we fill a room with the sweet fragrance of our resolve or the bitter smell of our frustrations and defeat when we enter it. May you have the courage to come up smelling like lilacs when you are temporarily crushed.
