“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. ” John 12:3
By Bro. John L. Cash, “Country Preacher Dad”
When you are born with no sense of smell, as I was, you need help. People who are blind in their eyes need a “seeing-eye dog”. People who are blind in their noses need a “smelling-nose friend”. I have always been blessed with people to help me in situations where smelling is necessary. Most of the time I enlist the help of my family members because they’re usually handy and also because they’re obligated to me because we’re related.
Just yesterday I made my sons sniff an empty litter box that I had just cleaned to see if it needed any more cleaning. I got Spencer’s girlfriend, Bethany, to sniff it, too, for good measure. (Just in case this thing gets serious, she needs to know what sort of family she is marrying into. I’m sure she’s praying that the insanity gene skips a generation.) Everybody said the freshly-cleaned litter box smelled fine. It’s good to have family when you’re blind in your nose.
But, what’s a person to do when they’re away from home without a sense of smell? Then, you have to enlist the help of a friend. And let me tell you, a friend who will sniff for you is a friend indeed.
The best “smelling-nose friend” I’ve ever had was one of my college roommates, Ray Trantham, pictured here with his wife Pam. (He is Dr. Raymond S. Trantham now and is a missionary and seminary professor in Odessa, Ukraine.) He was the best because, first of all, he had the most incredibly sensitive sniffer this world has ever known, and also because he would gladly sniff anything I asked him to sniff. (Remember, he’s a brave and rugged missionary.)
Back in our Bible college days, he sniffed leftover vegetables to see if they were tainted and new brands of bath soap to see if they smelled sissy. He smelled shirts that were worn for thirty minutes and then hung back on a hanger and laundry that had been left too long in the hamper. Once his sniffed under my armpits when I ran in after a busy day at work and was on my way out the door to talk to a pretty girl. His verdict? “Well, you smell just a tiny, tiny bit, but I have to get really, really close, and she’s not going to have her head up under your armpit—I hope!”
From my friend Ray, I learned a great deal about the nature of smells and aromas. Brother Ray always drank instant breakfast powder mixed in two-percent milk for breakfast instead of eating in the Bible college cafeteria. When I asked him why he never ate school breakfast, he said, “If you go in there, you smell like the kitchen for the rest of the day.” I was always amazed that when I came back from breakfast he could always tell what the menu of the day was by taking one sniff when I walked back in our dorm room. He would inhale once and then make a pronouncement: “Oatmeal” or “Sausage gravy”; “Bacon and Eggs” or “French toast”. Just one sniff, and he always got it right.
Now, here’s the thing that amazed me the most. He could always tell what girl had walked through the student lounge based on the aroma of perfume the young lady left behind. There was one girl at our college who always wore a perfume called Cinnabar. (I can’t imagine, but it sounds like it would smell like “Big Red” chewing gum.) When Ray and I would head to New Testament Theology class at eight in the morning, he would comment that this young lady had already gone to class because he could smell her perfume.
[A side story here: Because he liked the way the other girl smelled, Ray bought a bottle of Cinnabar for the girl he was dating, Pam Hassell, who is now his wife. She said something like, “I-think-I-can-pick-out-my-own-perfume-thank-you.” She and her missionary friends of all denominations read this column in Ukraine now. It’s quite popular there. True story.]
All foolishness aside, here’s what I learned from Ray Trantham. Fragrances travel all through the house. We see that illustrated in today’s gospel lesson (at the top of the page). Mary Magdalene had bought a jar of expensive perfume, probably worth about $800 dollars. She broke the jar open and poured the entire contents on our Lord Jesus—because nothing is too beautiful for God. St. John then makes a wonderful observation in the story: “And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” Simply put, we learn here some important spiritual lessons. You can’t pour perfume on someone else without getting some on yourself. And whenever we do any deed that brings glory to our Saviour Jesus, the fragrance goes all through the house.
So, don’t forget. You can’t bless others without blessing yourself. And you can’t honor the Lord without making the world more beautiful for everyone. Dear mama, live this week to spread spiritual perfume on the Lord and on all those you come in contact with, especially your little ones. Your life (and theirs) will be sweeter for it.
Dr. John L. Cash is the “Country Preacher Dad” *Sing that title to the tune of “Secret Agent Man” He was raised in Stuttgart, Arkansas, and is beginning his third decade of being a country preacher in the piney woods five miles south of the little town of Hickory, Mississippi. He and his lovely wife, Susan, and his sons, Spencer (age 18) and Seth (age 14) live in the parsonage next door to the Antioch Christian Church” (where the Preacher is usually in charge of dumping the litter box because his handicap is handy). You should write him at extramailbox@juno.com.
“Okay,” I said, my mind racing around town wondering where I might find a Big Bad Wolf costume when Halloween was still five months away.
WOW! Thanks so much to everyone who told us what they love about coming home to a clean, organized space. The desire to have a little help getting there is definitely something we can all relate to. We’re so happy to offer giveaways on this website that help Northwest Arkansas moms solve a problem. And for some, this is a problem that’s downright monumental.
You heard it here first! We just got a little inside scoop about one of our favorite shopping spots. Signed Sealed Delivered is moving and expanding! Currently located on 52nd Street in Rogers, the store will soon be moving into a new space in the Shoppes at Pinnacle Hills, right across the street from the Embassy Suites (near the Cold Stone Creamery area).
If you love a huge yard sale, we’ve got one to tell you about. We hear that several families are all pitching in for a big yard sale to be held this Saturday (May 30th) from 7 a.m. to noon at Central Park Elementary School in Bentonville. One of the teachers there tells me there will be kids items, clothes, toys, furniture and lots more. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the school. (Bargains plus a good cause? We like it.)
Walnuts
For more info on why and how these four foods help control weight, 
A local mom just sent out a message that the movies “Up” and “Hannah Montana” will be playing this weekend at Fayetteville’s Hwy. 112 drive-in theatre. How fun!
I wanted to share the link to a story about a book by Dr. Jean Twenge, pyschologist and social commentator. Her brand new book is called 
If you’re a fan of Scrubs or How I Met Your Mother, then you’re probably also a fan of actress, Sarah Chalke, pictured right. She will star in a new miniseries on the Lifetime channel called Maneater, premiering on May 30th. Sarah is fluent in French and German and said her biggest vice is dark chocolate. She also admits to a fear of flying, saying “I always have to tap the plane on the way in. Just a little love pat.” (Source: People Magazine, June 1, 2009 issue)
married father of Julia, 17, and Daniel, 13. (And yes, his son’s name was partly inspired by his role on Karate Kid.) He says his biggest accomplishment has been raising his family. Macchio says he still owns that “wax-on, wax-off” Ford convertible from the movie. He let his son wear the famous headband to school on Halloween one time. He said his teenage daughter is dating. “Give me the crane kick,” he said with a sigh, invoking the film’s signature knock-out move. “This is the toughest job on the planet.” (Source: People Magazine, June 1, 2009 issue)
Bentonville photographer Lisa McSpadden and her husband Dr. Glen McSpadden welcomed their first child, Josiah Samuel, born Tuesday May 19, 2009, after an amazing 26 HOURS of labor. (Lisa, you are a gladiator!) This story is even sweeter, when you consider that Lisa and Glen have been trying for this baby for more than 7 years! Congrats to Lisa and Glen! You have certainly been blessed.
We’d also like to congratulate Jennifer Haile and her husband, Charles! Jennifer, a Sunrise reporter at 40/29, also has a new baby boy! Brady Hudson Sebourn weighed 6 lbs., 12 oz., and has a big brother named Jackson.
We also have a baby girl picture to include! We wanted to share the birth announcement picture of Katherine Marie, the new baby girl belonging to our Mommy in Progress blogger Jacqueline Presley (and husband Spencer!). Katie came on the scene May 6 after much prayer and a dose of castor oil!
ease the risk dramatically.
that would take you hours and hours (or maybe days) to do on your own. Windows, baseboards, floors, window blinds, bathrooms, kitchen, woodwork, rugs — the works.
st six of my friends/neighbors, etc. have become her clients.
For extra chances to win, simply e-mail some of your friends about this website and giveaway, and we’ll give you an extra chance to win for every friend you tell. (Spread the word to 10 people, and your name goes in the hat 10 more times. Fifteen friends, 15 entries.) Just be sure to copy us on the message by putting 
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