I love the tea olive bush. Four of them are growing in our yard at home. When we built the office building at church, I had a few of them planted here as well. They produce clusters of small white blooms for several weeks during the winter that emit a beautiful, sweet fragrance that can linger in the yard.
This week I parked in front of my office, got out of the car and began walking toward the door when seemingly out of the blue on a cloudy day I smelled that sweetness. I stopped and just took it in. The experience didn’t last more than 30 seconds, but it made me feel good.
I have that experience several times each winter. At home and at the church office, that sweet scent always makes me smile. I always stop, if only for a few seconds, and smell the sweetness.
I try to do the same thing in life. Sometimes I stop and take in those special moments. Other times I’m so busy or distracted, I just keep going. Each time I stop and take in life’s little gifts, my life is blessed. When I don’t, I miss out on blessings God wanted to give me.
I encourage you to take a moment or two each day to just stop and enjoy the small things. Soak them in. Smell the sweetness. You’ll be glad you did.
Pastor Steve Hogg
Mitzie Rock says
Great blog. When I Attend church even in the worst of weather I get that same feeling. A new part of me comes alive like spring flowers. Perhaps it is because I am older or have been threw so much but I find I go slower and with more thought in all my life.