I bought my dog a bag of beef sticks for snacks. I had planned to keep them in a drawer in my desk but when I opened the bag a cloud of garlic aroma wafted from that bag with such intensity my eyes rolled back into my head. I gave her a couple and later decided to play Dagwood Bumstead by taking a nap on our couch. I wasn’t too long zoned out to the world when I was startled to consciousness by an overwhelming foul cloud. Opening my eyes I found myself staring into two dark eyes a few inches from my nose. She wanted more as she gave me that “cocked head, pathetic, adorable, poor me” look. When you love someone or something, people and pets take on a completely different perspective. I got her another one.
You know the old saying one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Well there is a corollary saying, “One man’s stench is another man’s perfume.” Just stop at a perfume sample counter at the mall. Some are great and some are, well, not so great. We are not very consistent about smells. If we are hungry almost anything food smells great. If we are nauseous the best smells in the world make us even sicker.
I am sure sometimes our behaviors and attitudes reek in the courts of heaven. Yet, His love for us enables Him to continually reach out to us. He does not offer perfume to mask our odor. Instead He offers a transformation of being. By His grace and with His power we are enabled to do sweet smelling acts of love as we become more and more like Him.
Written by Roger Bothwell on January 31, 2012
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org