I love getting on an elevator with someone who is wearing a clean, pleasant fragrance. The aroma almost seems to lighten everyone’s mood as they travel to their floor. With equal passion I can say that I hate getting on an elevator with someone who hasn’t showered, especially if they’ve used their perfume or aftershave lavishly, hoping it will cover their odor.

Some people are known for the fragrance they wear. My mom-in-law only wore a perfume called White Shoulders. When I hugged her, she left a hint of that fragrance on me. I had always heard the power of smell is one of our strongest senses. I was standing in the frozen foods aisle a few months after my mom-in-law died when a woman walked by wearing White Shoulders. Tears sprung instantly to my eyes, and I was surprised by the power of the emotions I felt.

I like to consider that when we walk closely with the Lord, his “fragrance” lingers on us and we are able to spread the knowledge of him to those around us. I like to think that the knowledge we spread can cause others to instantly respond to moments from their past as they remember a past experience with Jesus.

We should be grateful and honored to serve Jesus in this way. We can be that fragrance in a room that causes people to be glad we have joined them. We can also use our faith to mask the truth about our lives. People can tell, and people will respond accordingly.

Wisdom is offering our gratitude to God. Wisdom is walking so near to Christ that his fragrance lingers on us. We know him and recognize him by his fragrance. Others can know him as well when we wisely and gratefully share our knowledge of him with others.