by Joanie Butman
While walking with a friend last week, she was describing her recent trip to Montana. She recounted that her husband, an avid outdoorsman, can identify any animal by its droppings. Growing up in the city, I never knew that was a desirable or particularly useful skill. The extent of animal diversity in Brooklyn was simply big dog vs. little dog, and it didn’t take a genius to figure that out. Avoiding stepping in what they left behind was my chief concern (no pooper scooper laws back then). Surprised, I replied, “Your husband’s a poop whisperer?!” She laughed and answered, “You got it!”
It didn’t take long to leap from animals to humans because we can all be defined by the trail we choose to leave. Does yours emit a noxious odor, or is it a ‘sweet aroma pleasing to the Lord’? Just something to think about. Don’t we all know people who are infamous for leaving a wake of human detritus behind, wreaking havoc wherever they go? It doesn’t take long (or any expertise) to sniff them out. And trust me, you don’t want to step in a pile of their stinky 'leftovers.' Just like some dog owners, there are those that choose to leave their mess for someone else to clean up. Something I suppose we're all guilty of at some point. Fortunately, God is an expert pooper scooper. There is no mess He can't handle.
Conversely, there are those who choose to leave love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness in the hearts of those they encounter. Our actions speak for themselves. In fact, there is no greater witness to your beliefs than how you treat others and what you choose to leave behind on your path through life. I'll share some excellent advice I've been given for my life journey. Only when you choose to inhale the grace of God can you hope to exhale it to others. When people think of you, is it with a crinkled up nose or are you a breath of fresh air?
I'll leave you with a quote from 2 Corinthians to ponder this week. “Thanks be to God…. who uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
