One by one they filed in, each one with a bouquet of flowers to honour me and my milestone birthday. I was overwhelmed with the bouquets being handed to me and I couldn’t keep up. I wanted a photo with each person who entered and I couldn’t take them with my arms so full. I had to call my husband to take the flowers from me and to put them in vases. We actually ran out of vases and had to double up on some of the bouquets. I also shared them and gave some away.
Do we carry a sweet scent of joy or leave a trail of negativity and complaints? What aroma is being shared through our lives?
In reality, I have major allergies to flowers – to anything outside in nature actually – but I still love these beauties and took the time to make everyone know how much I had appreciated their thoughtfulness. I was more blessed and deeply touched by the people who stood in my presence and made a deliberate effort to spend time with me and be in my space. I am a people person and quality time is my love language.
When the celebration was over and I took a look around the rooms- my living room, kitchen, and family room, I felt like I was standing in a funeral home not because there was a mess or because I felt sad- because there wasn’t much and I didn’t feel that way at all, but because of the amounts of flowers that took over these spaces. They were everywhere! Once again God spoke to me. The thought came to me- Give flowers while people are alive. Flowers add beauty to a space. Flowers give off a sweet scent and aroma. Flowers are a sign of life and comfort.
God invites us to add beauty to the spaces He places our lives in. We can add beauty to our family and friend relationships, to our work places and our communities. Do we live a life of love? Do we do to others as we would want done to us? Do we answer to the needs of the “least of these”? Do we clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience? Does our inner beauty of a gentle spirit, good deeds that glorify God, a pure heart, pleasant ways that share peace decorate a room?
Does the sweet fragrance of salvation spread whenever we are around? Do we give encouragement and counsel that is sweet in the lives of others? Do our lips speak praise and our lives be living sacrifices that please God? Do we carry a sweet scent of joy or leave a trail of negativity and complaints? What aroma is being shared through our lives?
How do our lives add value to others? Do we take time to comfort and weep when others are weeping? Do we rejoice when others are rejoicing? Are we generous with our time, our talents, our blessings?
Hebrews 13:16 reminds us “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God”.
Matthew 5:16 is also a great reminder, “In the same way, let your light shine before others’ so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
We are to be the bouquets that make a difference in people’s lives. And like real flowers, they are only noticed and appreciated by those that are living. With the life that God has blessed you with, in every season, be a beautiful flower whose sweet aroma will never be forgotten and the sign of life you left for others was Jesus.
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