Monday, May 25, 2009

"Mama, You Stink!"

I am so blessed to have little boys! No issues with raging hormones, drama with friends, or shopping at the mall! No, they just tell it like it is...very honestly! After my pilates class this morning, I sat down to check my email before my run. They both came up to me to give me a good morning hug. They CAN be very sweet! Child #2 said," Mama, you stink!" and Child #1 agreed! Y'all....!!!! I did remember to use my Secret before I bounded out of the house to class! Promise! I truly didn't stink, I just had the aroma of exercising! There is a HUGE difference! I think that we will discuss this at lunch today! I want them to know this difference before telling a cute girl that she stinks! That would not be good!

While I was running, I started thinking about their comment. If that was my physical scent this morning, what is my spiritual scent? Do I give off the aroma of Christ? In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul tells us that God "...through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing....the fragrance of life."

What is your spiritual fragrance? Is it one of joy? Of soothing words that comfort? Is it one of encouragement to those who really need a lift? Or is it full of sarcasm or jealousy? Is it prideful?We choose our words--they are formed in our hearts and our heads before they pop out of our mouths! We can control our tongue and its tone--if we choose to. If we are filled with the knowledge of Christ and His love, that' s the aroma that should be detected when others are around us. Normally, my family smells my "Happy" perfume on me, and something with such a lovely physical scent should have a beautiful and pleasing spiritual aroma to match.

OK, what I would love to know is what is your SPIRITUAL aroma, and (also for fun!!) what is your store-bought one as well?? Just leave me a comment!! And, I want to thank you for your birthday wishes last Friday! I had a great day!!

Hope y'all have a wonderful Memorial Day! Don't forget to thank those veterans when you see them! And, remember to keep those who are serving our country now in your prayers.

Many Blessings!

17 comments:

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

This winter, after I'd come home for a run, I'd hang my coat up in the coat closet. After months of doing that, my husband let me know that the closet always smelled like my sweat because of it!

On Purpose said...

Wanting to smell like Jesus today!

Kelly said...

My husband is a runner and when he comes home my 5 yr old says "you smell like brussel SCOUTS!" (Never mind she's never seen, smelled or eaten a brussel sprout.) After he showers and puts on his aftershave, she says "now you smell like daddy again."

I wear Eternity by Calvin Klein. I don't know what my spiritual aroma is?!? I just hope I don't stink!

Sharon Sloan said...

So cute. :)

I think I'll ask my hubs and our two cherubs what my spiritual aroma is and get back to you on that!

Store bought...I am so in between right now. I wore Liz Claiborne Realities for years...then they changed the scent and remodeled the jar! It's not the same. :( I have been waiting for the right scent to drift my way! :)

Happy Belated Birthday!!!!!!!

Deidre said...

I just love how you find God is every situation in life. I've been so convicted lately of what my spiritual aroma is in my home. I found too often I was spending time in the word only to get up snapping at my family. Yuck!

I recently started the Couch to 5K plan - you cannot even believe what a huge step that is for me having not exercised in YEARS, but am now in the 2nd week - yay! Your blog is such an encouragement!

Yolanda said...

I pray that my spiritual scent isn't stinky either, but pleasing.


Store bought---Coco by Chanel.


What great insight, Susan!

KelliGirl said...

Too funny! Kids say it like it is, don't they? (Girls do too, trust me.) Although after your run, I imagine they may have been a bit closer to the truth! :-)

I loved your analogy. I wonder what my spiritual scent is? And what do others "smell?" Hmmm.

As for earthly aromas, I love Bath and Body Works earthy scents like Juniper Breeze and Green Tea and Cucumber.

Belated Happy Birthday!! I'm glad you had a great day.

Love and hugs,
Kelli

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

My spiritual scent ... hmmmm; I'm not sure its flowing sweet today. Adequate, mind you, but not overly aromatic.

I gave up perfume a while back. I love "knowing" by Estee Lauder, but I don't much wear it. Not sure why. I suppose because too many people are allergic; now some Bath and Body scents will do me just fine!

peace~elaine
PS: I'm getting to really "stink it up" as I head outdoors for a night's run.

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

For the record, I just returned from my 4 mile run and I STINK! I'm with your boys. STANK is STANK...

~elaine

Kimberly said...

Hey, sweet friend!
I LOVE that verse! :) I know whenever I come by here, I always get a good whiff of Jesus! :)

Me, personally, I just usually smell like soap and my shampoo. No perfume here. :) But I soooo want to give off the fragrance of my beautiful Lord and Savior!

Hope your birthday was great!!! Mine isn't until the 8th of June. :)

Blessings, sweet Susan! And I love your purty front door!!!

christy rose said...

Susan,
This is a very thought-provoking post. I love what 2 Corinthians says about us, that we are the sweet fragrance of Christ. We do smell like Jesus on the inside. His righteousness in us exhales into the nostrils of all of those around us. We make evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God.

But, just like any frangrance. We can mask it. we can cover it up with the rotten stink of our dying flesh, if we tend to it more than the sweet life that lives in us.

This so ministered to me today.

Thank you so much!
Christy

Paula V said...

Happy Belated Birthday.

I would hope my aroma would be pleasing to the Lord. I would say with my low self confidence that I would say it is sour more than sweet.

Store---Shania, Exclamation, White Charlie (should I admit I wear generic?)--I can never smell it on myself so I take the attitude of what's the point...but like you so humbly mentioned...I should care because I want to not only be sweet smelling but also leave a sweet aroma of my Lord whereever I go.
Love,
P

Heather Conrad said...

Hello! Just came across your blog this evening - love the reference to our aroma...lots to think about there. I too am a runner and have learned so many God-lessons along the journey. Congratulations in your recent trail finish - that's an accomplishment. Chek with you later!

seesawfaith said...

Sad to say, my aroma has some undertones of bitterness, judgement and frustration. I usually have joy and love flowing but those not-so-sweet undertones can really affect the fragrance I give. It seems that just when I think I get rid of them, here they come again.

My physical fragrance? I love so many. right now I am using Red Door because I was given a huge bottle by a friend, and also Sunflowers. My hubby really likes that one. I haven't been fragrance shopping in awhile. I might need to hit the counters soon!

Wendy Blight said...

How I was challenged by your post today. I think it was hard because God brought to mind my tongue, most specifically my words...what impact (fragrance) do my words leave when I walk away?

I walk away from the computer today inviting the Lord to remind me throughout the day of my words and whether they leave a sweet fragrance of encouragement, love, wisdom, and kindness.

Thank you for this gift,

Wendy

PS. my fragrance is LUCKY

The Patterson 5 said...

I hope I'm spreading the aroma of Christ all around! One night when I was scheduled to work and would miss our family devotion time my middle son asked if we could do our Bible time early because it was just not the same with out me. "You're the Bible girl, mom!"

I do not wear perfume but I do slather my self in bath and body works lotion.. midnight pomegranite at the present!

Joyful said...

Well, that aroma of yours across the miles is pure sweetness. What a beautifully fragrant post.

My perfume of choice is "Pleasures" by Estee Lauder. As for my spiritual scent these days, I hate to admit I feel it's been a little lacking. It would be best described as "Guess", because it hasn't been consistant. Your post is encouraging me to do something about that!

Thanks Susan.
Love ya,
Joy