Are there pleasing aromas coming from your kitchen yet? Christmas is right around the proverbial corner, and I probably have more olfactory memories associated with Yuletide than any other time. During my formative years, my mom often made wassail. Traditional wassails are alcoholic, but I assure you my very Baptist mother’s was without fermentation. She used tea brewed with cinnamon and cloves, then added orange juice and lemon. I have to admit, it’s not my favorite drink. But even still, any combination of these smells takes me back to the church parties and family gatherings my parents hosted in the little house on Rita Street.
My sisters and I also made cream cheese cookies with Mama every Christmas. We used cookie cutters to shape them into candy canes and snowmen, elves and angels. When I bake a batch to golden brown and catch a whiff, I am reminded of traditions and family and cookies that were just a little extra special because of the cream cheese in the dough.
Maybe the smells you associate with Christmas differ from mine. The sharp, sweet scent of peppermint or the tangy oranges you peeled straight from your stocking. Hot cocoa or logs burning in the fireplace. The freshness of a real evergreen Christmas tree or candied fruit cake (hey, you do you). Or if you don’t live in the South like me, maybe the crisp smell of newly fallen snow signals the season.
2 Corinthians 2:14-16
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”
Oh, that I will be up to the task! Just like oranges and cinnamon immediately make me think of Jesus’ birthday, I want everything about me to remind others of Him. May He be all over me so others see Christ instead of me. And may I spread His life-giving scent all around.
Lord, make me a pleasing aroma this season that others recognize as You.
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Christmas always smells so good, especially turkey and ham. There were homemade rolls baking the other day and they sure did smell great. Merry Christmas from all of us.
Merry Christmas, Brian. Thanks for stopping by!
I remember the distinct smell of the freshly cut Christmas tree; it’s something I truly miss since we’ve had an artificial tree for years.
Yes, may we all exude the sweet aroma of Jesus to the world this season and beyond.
Blessings, Lauren!
I was very allergic to real trees as a baby, but still love the smell!
Ah, yes! The smells of Christmas. I miss having a real tree in the house but only for the smells. 🙂
I can only imagine.
I have never thought about “the aroma of Christ” before. It’s a great question – what does God smell like?
Well now you will have me thinking about that all day!
Beautiful post, and blog, Lauren. I’ve enjoyed my first visit. Laurie’s question above, “What does God smell like”? made me think of roses and lilies. (Solomon 2:1) What a heavenly combination. ♥
That is heavenly, Betty Jo. Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you come back! Merry Christmas.
I love your memories of the smells of Christmas, Lauren. Many of these same smells remind me of the season as well. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements! MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours!!!
Thank you, Patsy. Merry Christmas.
I love the different scents of Christmas and the memories they hold. This was such a beautiful way of reflecting on it and how God has a way of incorporating aromas. Wishing you all the best this Christmas season!
Thank you so much, Sierra. Merry Christmas.
I loved the imagery you created to illustrate this message. So beautiful. Our sense of smell has a longer memory than any other sense. It is amazing that so many memories can be triggered by an odor or an aromoa. It’s a very powerful analogy, too.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Isn’t it crazy how a smell can bring you back? Sometimes not in a good way. You know, certain cologne’s/ old boyfriends. But I digress. Thanks for reading, Shelbee.
I enjoyed reading your memories of the smells of Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Lauren!
#BloggerClubUk
Thank you, Veronica! Merry Christmas.
I don’t have a particular smell associated with my mom’s Christmas cooking, but I do have particular recipes. I’m looking forward to making one again this Christmas for our family gathering. Who knows? Maybe it’ll be a tradition renewed for the next generation. 🙂
Here’s to traditions, Lisa!
Your cream cheese cookies sound delicious. We, too, always have hot wassail. I had no idea it usually has alcohol in it. My Nazarene momma never added it. We still make it but with apple juice and other flavorings. I love the smell of it.
I have to admit I haven’t been paying attention to the smell of Christmas. I am going to today. Thank you – Maree
I think paying attention to those little things can help us be so much more present. Thanks, Maree.
Smells can deja vu me to all kinds of memories of people and places. I remember years ago I wrote a little newspaper article, The Nose Knows, about this exact thing. I wonder what the fragrance of our worship smells like before the throne!!!
I wonder that too, Susan!
Such wonderful imagery, Lauren. My grandmother always made the most delightful baked goodies– sugar cookies, spritz cookies, red and green popcorn balls, and even the dreaded fruit cake. It always looked as though it should delicious, but I never did like it. Oh, well!
I love the parallel you’ve drawn between the scents of Christmas and the being the aroma of Christ to others. Perhaps each year He will sanctify and grow us more and more in such a way that we are more like Him. Thank you for these encouraging words.
Merry Christmas!
I pray I will “smell” more like Jesus every year, Tammy. Merry Christmas.
I’m am super sensitive to scent, and I love all the Christmas scents! From that first whiff of pine when you enter a Christmas tree lot, orange zest, gingerbread, sugar cookies, chocolate cake for baby Jesus, cedar, rose and tobacco candles being extinguished; the smell of wrapping paper and scotch tape, envelope adhesive, vanilla frosting, and sugar. I could go on and on!
Merry Christmas!
Wrapping paper and scotch tape! I hadn’t thought of those. Good ones. Merry Christmas!
There are particular aromas that smell best during Christmas. I usually have candles and wax melts as well as my essential oil diffuser going with my fav scents. Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 7. Shared.
I have recently gotten back into candles. Maybe from writing this post!