Our lilac trees bloomed a week ago, as well as some other spring flowers, and the yard was full of sweet flower aromas. It was great to come home from work, step out of the car, and smell those beautiful blooms. I took my time going in to the house, inhaling the smells of the yard as much as possible.
The spring rains came days later and I had to mow grass that was kind of damp. I bagged those wet clippings and dumped them into our yard waste bin, nearly filling it to the top. It sat for two days in the hot sun and when I flipped the lid to throw some sticks away I was met with the most horrid smell.
I stepped back quickly. I should have been surprised but it’s the same thing every year. Wet grass clippings somehow turn into an East coast fishing dock in my driveway. I expect to look into the bin and find rotten salmon and lobster carcasses…not grass clippings. The sweet smell of garden flowers is destroyed by the putrid smell of rotting grass wafting around. I don’t like it! I want things sweet and pleasant all spring and summer long!
That smell is simply decay. I’m tired of decay. I want my car to last, my paint jobs to last, and my sidewalks, gardens, family members, pets, and my own body to last forever.
One day, that’s going to be reality. This realm will not always suffer under the weight of death! Jesus called Lazarus out from the stinking tomb after four days of decay. He then commanded the people to remove the grave clothes from his body. That tells me that God HATES death and sees it as an enemy, not desiring His creation, friends, or children to be tainted by it.
Friends, if you’re tired of death and decay like me, take heart that God will one day put an end to death forever! Until then, enjoy the beauty of life each day and, as they say, “take time to smell the roses”.
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Amen, brother Eric. I think Job said: “For I know that my Redeemer lives,
And He shall stand at last on the earth;
And after my skin is destroyed, this I know,
That in my flesh I shall see God,” Job 19:25-26
In elementary education, I get to work with lots of ladies, and most of them are now younger than me. The number of forty-something, and even thirty-something year olds who use Botox is astounding! It’s most of them brother. News flash: our beautiful bodies will one day wear it, but the soul never dies. So,live accordingly.
Great post, brother. Not too long or short and straight to the point. Blessings!
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Thanks for your encouraging words, brother David! I have also seen the Botox craze as of late, with a plethora of TV ads showing how easy it is to trim, nip, tuck, fold, and fill the flesh. I don’t get it, it’s like bailing water on the sinking Titanic…and paying money for each bucket bailed! Anyway, have a great day, brother!👍🏻👍🏻🙏🙏
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Great reminder, Eric! This made me think of that song by Mercy Me, “Oh Death.”
“Oh death, I will not be afraidIn the end you will loseI will dance on your graveWith the One who buried youYou ain’t nothin’ but a stoneThat my Savior rolled awaySet you straight and set me freeOh, death, you arе dead to meOh, death, you arе dead to me!”
Have a blessed day!
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Since I’ve always loved Mercy Me, I had to check out their music video for “Oh Death.” It’s a great song, but I wasn’t familiar with all the lyrics. Now I am! 🙂
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Pausing to admire God’s creations, as you do, is a good habit that can strengthen our spiritual well-being. It certainly lifts my spirits! 🙂
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