Walking at sunrise to avoid the searing heat of the day, I brushed against a dewy juniper hedge, releasing its spicy fragrance.  Next, I passed a large clump of rosemary and crushed a few sprigs in my hand as I walked. Giving God thanks for the sweet aroma and my sense of smell, I thought about how often I take my senses for granted.

It’s never wise to take our blessings for granted, whether inborn characteristics, learned talents, or circumstances. Complacency leads to inertia and we fail to develop our gifts or take advantage of the opportunities we are given.

When it comes to the sense of smell, we have a choice whether to mostly expose ourselves to locations yielding unpleasant odors or to surround ourselves with delightful aromas. We can walk in gardens, keep our homes clean and our garments fresh, or we can allow garbage and filth to overflow in our lives.

We have the same choice with all our senses to one degree or another. We can choose what we look at, listen to and think about, as the Scripture says: