The Good Stank

(Originally published February 12, 2015) Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. 2 Cor. 2:15

I knew the moment true adulthood struck my “former kid’s” room. There was suddenly this aroma that came from their room. It smelled like death and vomit and rot or something. Okay I am exaggerating for emphasis, because the only way to truly explain it was The Smell of Adulthood. It was as though one moment I was in the presence of my beautiful big child, and the next moment, literally the next second, I felt like you need to move out, or pay rent or something. 

My relationship with the child suddenly morphed from nurturing parent to growing advisor for adulthood. Because there was a new fragrance coming from them. That whole age of accountability thing, in my mind, was punctuated with a God given fragrance. Not an attitude, although their maturity is still changing. I was ready for that. Not physical changes, because voices and bodies and shoe sizes have been changing for years. No you, young man… young woman… you stink. It means you are grown. Go take Another shower and decide if you want to smell like Christ-like life or well death. 

Your mom and I are praying you choose, and continue to choose, life.