MANNA MINUTE

 

THE SCENT OF CHRISTMAS by Sandra Kay Taylor

 

 

It started with a tiny hand — a hand outstretched and holding a miniature bar of goat milk soap.

Of all the different fragrances offered on the vendor’s autumn display table that sales day, my petite, five-year-old niece, I

 

zzie, was adamant about purchasing this one particular bar of soap. She held her new-found treasure out to me. So, taking the bar from her hand, I lifted it to my nose. It had a scent unfamiliar to me — a somewhat odd scent and certainly not one a child would normally choose. But, choose it she did! And, as it turned out, the child did not have an odd sense of smell — not at all. She just wanted to smell like Christmas, and bath in the fragrance of frankincense and myrrh — the very fragrances the wise men had given the baby Jesus.

Matthew 2:11 – And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. (KJV)

 

After her bath that night, Izzie stood before me wrapped in a towel and asking, “How do I smell?” And of course, I gave her my best smile and said, “Why, you smell like Christmas!” She was delighted as she marched off to bed.

When I say, “It started,” I am speaking of that one simple hint that comes in a very personal way to remind me that the time of adoration had come — Advent is here! This year, the simple hint came when Izzie handed me a little bar of goat milk soap that smelled of frankincense and myrrh. How she knew, I do not know!

Dearest ones, once again, the season of peace on earth and goodwill to men has begun. Once again, w

 

e open our Bibles to read of the shepherds and how they spoke of seeing and hearing the army of heavenly hosts light up the night sky with praises to God. And once again, we are reminded of the young mother, Mary, who listened to those shepherds:

Luke 2:19 – But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. (KJV)

I say, “Once again,” but each time we read of His birth, it seems brand new! And what a beautiful thing to be given a season — not just one day — to look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus our Lord — the birth of our Saviour!

Prayer: Father, we just want to thank You for our Lord Jesus and for this season in which we celebrate His birth. With hearts full of joy, we thank You for birthing love and grace into this world. We thank You, for unto us a King is born! Amen.