Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Sweet Aroma

These tiny white flowers cascade over several fences and a couple of archways throughout the apartment complex where I live. I'll be honest, I haven't always noticed them, but there is one thing that I always notice...Sometimes before I even see these white flowers, I smell them. I can't even begin to describe the aroma that comes from these mini blossoms...sweet and intoxicating...and I somehow I am transported back to my childhood and a much simpler time.

(I am not a botanist, but I think this is confederate jasmine. At least it looks similar to a picture my friend posted on her blog, Hoe and Shovel.)

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 says, "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."

I've thought a lot about those two verses over the last couple of days. I've asked myself questions like, "What kind of fragrance do I give off?" "Do people really see Jesus in me?" "Does my life leave a 'fragrance of the knowledge of Him?" "Does my life give off a fragrance similar to that of the jasmine? One that causes people to stop and know that something is different about me?"


2 comments:

Meems said...

OOOOOHHHH how I love the heavenly frangrance of confederate jasmine... and the wonderful thing about (or ONE of the wonderful things)it is the blooms last for almost two months and the bees and butterflies are attracted to them too. So glad you're enjoying them around your home too.

I'll let you answer all the questions you bravely ask... but I promise it gives me something more to think about as well.
Meems @ Hoe & Shovel (thanks for the link too)

Jane said...

I'll confess...I first thought it was honey suckle...Actually both might be growing in one of the areas, but I soon realized that it was indeed something very different.

Oh and thanks for not calling me out on my own blog by answering those questions. ;)

And glad you like the new look. I haven't decided yet, so it may change again.