Excerpt
Fragrance

Have you ever had the opportunity to smell a wild rose? There is a sweetness to the fragrance that you don't often find in flowers from the florist. These beautiful flowers haven't been genetically altered and they retain their scent. The smell is rich and full but not overpowering. It always reminds me of my Grandmother, for she had a wild rose bush just outside her door and every time I visited her when the roses were blooming the fragrance was a warm and welcoming greeting.

Have you ever walked along a mossy brook and smelled the dark, rich smell of the wet earth? Or have you ever smelled freshly mown hay, or home-made bread baking in the oven? Maybe you've noticed the earthy, sharp smell of the sale water at the beach or the pungent smell of a wood fire in a campground. These and many other fragrances always remind me of God.

I marvel at the breadth of scents He has provided us and the variety of both sweet and earthy fragrances. I have a condition that sometimes causes my sense of smell to disappear and for several days I may not be able to smell anything. However, when it comes back to life I am always reminded of the richness of our world and how much information and gratification our sense of smell provides. It is something we usually take for granted but playing hide and seek with mine has given me a whole new appreciation for the gifts it brings.