The Smells of Christmas

Most of us have heard the popular Christmas song, “The Bells of Christmas” but what about “the smells of Christmas?” As far as I know, no such song exists yet, for me, there are certain smells I have fond memories of from Christmases gone by. These include:

• The smell of a freshly cut pine tree on our Missouri farm which would serve as our Christmas tree that year.

• The smell of wassal, also known as hot apple cider.

• The smell of gingerbread cookies and houses.

• The smell of baked goodies like apple pie, brownies and pumpkin pie being prepared for the Christmas day.

• The smell of new things like the leather on shoes, the rubber on a toy caterpillar, the wool on socks and the fragrance of soaps and colognes, all opened on Christmas mornings.

God tells us that believers in Jesus Christ have a fragrance. It says in II Corinthians 2:14b-16 "…and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life." This is telling us that when Jesus is Lord of our lives and we are filled with the Holy Spirit there is a spiritual dynamic that can bring conviction to unbelievers of their lostness when they’re around us. At the same time there is a perception of all things that lead to life for believers who are with other believers.

On Christmas day we don’t want to smell things like burning rolls, shorting out electronics or overcooked yams. It means that something we should take delight in is showing more death than life. On the other hand, the piping hot ham, warm homemade rolls and scented candles are all invigorating. They are life producing.

This Christmas Season let us remember that we are the very fragrance of Christ. Wherever we go we are bringing a conviction or awareness of lostness and sin to the unbeliever and an invigorating aroma of life to believers. How I love the smells of Christmas!