“…and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” john 12:3

i was talking with a trusted friend.  getting some honest feedback on some concerns.  wondering what needed to be changed in the way i was responding to some situations.

i was surprised at the calmness with which she said it.  she didn’t mince words.  looked right at me and suggested, “you need to shut your mouth.  stop talking.  back off.”

a bit shaken, i asked, “is that your opinion, or did someone actually say that?”

“yes.  it was stated.   now, before you get upset, listen.  all of us need people like you in our lives.  but mary, your anxiety is contagious.”

your anxiety is contagious.

your anxiety is contagious.

your anxiety is contagious.

not the way i want to fill up a room.  not at all.

later as i reflected back over our conversation  i recalled the passage in john 12 where mary visits Jesus and anoints His feet with a pint of pure nard.  the scripture says, “and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

what fragrance traveled through those rooms?

it was the fragrance of worship.  the fragrance of peace.  the fragrance of love.  deliverance.  healing.  forgiveness.  humility.

and it was contagious.  everyone in the house was affected.

i thought of my classroom, my home, my church, various places in the community i visit often.  even driving others in my car.  what atmosphere do i carry with me?  do others want to soak in the overflow of my heart?  there’s another scripture that says, “ out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.”  my words indicate the condition of my heart.

and it’s all contagious.

sounds like i need to get with God this weekend and do some work on my heart, ask some tough questions.  about my words, my motives, and the “fragrance” i’m carrying around everywhere i go.  yes, everywhere.   the fragrance that’s filling up every room i enter.  the fragrance that’s contagious.

if i’ll allow Him, God will shine His light on what’s there, down deep, in the places i don’t want to go.  if i’ll allow Him, He’ll heal me.  and if i’ll stop trying to control, if i’ll get out of His way and empty myself of myself, He’ll fill me with the fragrance of Jesus.

and it will be contagious.