The Aroma of Christ Series
Part 3
January 17, 2009
Today started a wee bit early for me, like 3:30 a.m.! In the quietness of the dark morning hour, I sat on our comfy brown sofa and pondered the journey of our younger son. Sometimes, we need the dark in order to see the light.
A quote I came across today: “You need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither.”
Looking back, it’s clear to see that every mountain of medical issues our son has been forced to climb; the ascent has only strengthened his legs and enlarged his faith, with time.
His journey has had a similar effect on my faith, as well. Perhaps his courageous response to each situation has caused me to grow in the deepest place of my heart. I have learned by his example, that we have a choice as to how we respond. He has shown me how to live out the Scripture, “that we can know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him…” Phil. 3:10 It’s not done by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit. Kevin’s walk in the unity of the bond of the Spirit empowers him to flow in the fullness of God’s grace.
I gain insights from imagery – learning simple truths by observing nature. Today while out walking, the trees seemed to preach a sermon to me. I was reminded that Believers in the bible are sometimes represented as trees, just as Jesus is referred to as our Oak of Righteousness. As I gazed at the tree, I couldn’t help but notice the enormous roots above the ground’s surface, which made me wonder just how deeply the root system reached below. That is when I began to feel a stirring in my heart, the message that the tree was trying to communicate to me: I am to send forth my tap root, deep down past the water table, to draw from the true source of Living Waters.
My son has learned to scale the mountains well. The joy of the Lord is his strength, his peace is like a river, Jehovah Nissi is the Lord his Banner. He has learned to hide in the shadow of El Shaddai’s wings and to build his foundation upon the Rock. The sweetest fragrance of all has come from his fellowship of sharing in his suffering. The aroma of Christ permeates the walls of his heart and the atmosphere of our lives. That’s why I call him: “Kevin from heaven.”
