How do you smell?

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ, among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

2 Corinthians 2:15

This morning I was able to relax in a bath, spending a nice long time reading through the scriptures. It was a great time of worship and study. Unfortunately, as I ascended from the water, I realized my dog was very inconveniently lying on my towel. Sadly, it was the only towel left in the bathroom. Now, yes, I could have scurried down to the laundry room to get another towel, but frankly, I like my dog way more than I like being wet and cold.--- I used the towel.

In retrospect, using said towel was a bad idea, for it consigned me to an entire day of worrying if I smelled like a dog. Really, ALL day. Someone would get too close, I'd back up. Someone would come near, I'd pause and retreat.  In short, I spent the last 12 hours being very conscious of myself and my interactions with others.

Funny thing is, I don't recall one time throughout this whole odor debacle day, when I wondered if I smelled like my Savior (remember, the God whom I was studying, whose Word I was reading, the whole time my dog was lying on the towel). Never once did I wonder if I smelled like Him. When my daughter came home forgetting her spelling book, I didn't back up. When my husband said that thing that really bothered me, I didn't pause and consider my odor.  Nope, I just charged ahead with full on Jessica. Never once did I stop and consider what smell I was giving off.

So here's the question, 'Who do you smell like today?' Do you have the scent of annoyance over what that person said to you, or do you smell like your God?  Do you smell bitter because of that thing you just won't let go of, or do you have the sweet aroma of your Christ?

All this being said, take a moment and give yourself a whiff.

While you do that, I'm going to take a shower. This time, the towel is staying on the rack until I'm finished.