Recently, a friend and I had a conversation about smells. We talked about how, of all the senses, smell is the one that can transport us back to places and moments we hold in our hearts. Sometimes, a smell can take us back to a time of sadness, but it can also take us to places of comfort.
My grandma lived in an old three-story home where she rented out some of her rooms. The house had a basement, and the stairs creaked when you walked up and down them. When we visited her in Missouri, we would go up the stairs from the basement and into the house, and I would instantly smell the aroma of comfort and peace. I’ve never been able to replicate it. Grandma usually had fresh-baked cookies in my favorite cookie jar; the smell of oatmeal and all the other aromas mixed together was pure bliss. That conversation with my friend about smells stayed with me all week and helped me as we 
walked with families through profound loss and heartbreak.
It also makes me think about my own journey of loss and goodbyes. A loved one who was near the end of her life had always enjoyed baking in the kitchen. As she neared her homegoing, she began to describe the smells of food. “Do you smell it, Lisa? I can’t hardly describe it!” Those comforting smells were taking her home. In the same way, my mom tried to describe to me the beauty, color, and sounds of heaven as she took her last breaths.
In Scripture, pleasant fragrances often symbolize God’s presence and blessings. When Noah offered a sacrifice after the flood, “the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma” (Genesis 8:21). The book of Revelation describes golden bowls of incense, “which are the prayers of
God’s people” (Revelation 5:8). In the Bible, pleasant fragrances often symbolize God’s presence and blessings. Just as these holy scents were pleasing to God, the smell of my own home can remind me of His 
goodness and provision in my life. I thought about the spiritual parallels to these aromas:
- The smell of fresh laundry: God’s cleansing grace
- Simmering chicken soup: the warmth of God’s love
- My favorite coffee brewing: the energy and purpose God gives us each day
- A garden in bloom: growth in our spiritual lives and pruning for the next season
My Bible study this week has been in 2 Corinthians. In verse 15, Paul writes that we are “the aroma of Christ” to those around us. There it is again! Just as I am naturally drawn to a pleasant scent, others should be drawn to the love of Christ they see in us. That doesn’t mean preaching at every opportunity or judging those who don’t believe. Instead, it’s about living in such a way that people can’t help but notice something different and appealing about how we approach life and treat others.
What I loved about Grandma’s house was those comforting smells subtly filled every space. They weren’t strong and forceful. They didn’t overwhelm or offend. Those aromas were inviting and once you stepped inside the house, you didn’t need words to describe it. I want my faith to reflect this concept: not forceful but inviting and comforting. I want to embody Christ’s sweet scent of love in my words, actions, and attitudes. I can make a statement without needing words and a big announcement.
We often experience the most enticing aromas without realizing their origin. My conversation with my friend reminded me of the importance of living authentically, allowing others to be drawn in and blessed by the love and grace they experience through us. Some of the last words my mom spoke to me were, “Love wins, forgiveness heals.” These profound words take on new meaning as I’ve reflected on what it means to be the aroma of Christ. Love and forgiveness are powerful aromas that can permeate hard hearts, cross boundaries, and transform lives.
As we move through our days, may we be mindful of the fragrance we leave behind. Are we emanating the sweet aroma of 
Christ’s love or leaving an unpleasant scent? Are we a gentle, inviting presence that draws others toward the source of our hope and joy? In doing so, we fulfill our calling to be the aroma of Christ – not through forceful words or actions, but through lives lived in loving obedience to Him.
Let’s be the refreshing scent of love, grace, and forgiveness in a world often filled with the harsh odors of hatred, division, and selfishness. As my mom wisely knew, love does win, and forgiveness does heal. And that, my friends, is an aroma worth spreading.