THE SCENT OF DAISIES
Daisies have no detectable odor for us humans, but they do for butterflies and other creatures of nature. Most importantly, they remind us that we followers of Christ are told to be a fragrance to others, just as the daisy is to a butterfly.
ETERNAL PERSPECTIVES by Sally Bair
Daisy, Daisy …
On my walk today, I saw plenty of dandelions and a few wild strawberry blossoms, but no daisies. However, they’ll be popping up soon. I remember as a kid, we’d pluck each petal and say, he loves me, he loves me not. The last petal we pulled off was to be the boy we’d marry.
The field daisy, sometimes called the oxeye daisy, is unique in that it is both a wildflower and a weed. Related to the shasta daisy and chrysanthemum, it’s one of about 160 other species. One daisy plant carries several branches, each with a solitary flower at the top, so what we see above the ground is a whole bouquet of the blooms from one root.
We in the north country see it in abundance along our roads and in the fields and meadows, on hillsides, and in ditches. Recently I saw a bouquet of lovely daisies surrounded by weeds and garbage and junk. It reminded me of the followers of Jesus with whom I meet regularly. I envision them as lovely, bright daisies. They display the beauty of Christ even though they confront the garbage of sin and evil in this world.
There’s an old saying meant for Christian believers, “bloom where you’re planted,” which means to shine the brightness of Christ’s love wherever we go, wherever we live, in our unique environment.
We Christ-followers, His disciples, can be like a bouquet of daisies in the most unlikely places. In a neighborhood or workplace full of foul talk, cheating, or harassment. At an institution where the residents live in fear, despair, or hopelessness. In a health care facility filled with pain and suffering.
To us humans, the field daisy is almost odorless. But its elusive scent attracts bees and butterflies and other little critters, even ants. Like the daisies, followers of Christ who truly abide by His two greatest commandments—to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves—will draw others to Him. The Bible says that God, through us, spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved … the fragrance of life.” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16)
Lord, thank You for showing Your loving character in the lowly daisy. Give us the desire to be a sweet aroma of love and grace so others will be drawn to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Comments