The Residue

I do not like glitter.
There, I said it.
Glitter is something I never liked.
Glitter is something I never had around the house for my children.

There is quite a lot of glitter this time of year.
Glitter on cards.
Glitter on wrapping paper.
Glitter on gift bags.

No matter how cute the gift bag or paper might be, if it has glitter I pass it right by.
Glitter will remain long after the Christmas decorations are put away.
Glitter will get between the boards of the hardwood floors.
Glitter will latch on to anything and everything in its path.

I went to a Christmas concert over the weekend.
There were adorable twins, a boy and a girl, sitting in front of me.
They were dressed in their Christmas best.
The little girl looked almost angelic in her white ruffled dress.

Her blond hair framed her face in natural ringlets.
Her cheeks were rosy with excitement.
As the lights dimmed and the stage lights came on, she smiled at me.
Her face was speckled with glitter.

Her mother and grandmother were sitting in front of me as well.
They each had a child on their lap.
I saw the hands of each of the women as they enveloped the children.
Their hands were covered in glitter.

The director of the chorus called all the children up on stage.
He wanted them to sing along with the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer song.
All over the auditorium the children came forward.
All the children were dressed in their Christmas best.

I looked at the sweet little girl who was siting in front of me.
Under the stage lights, she sparkled.
Her dress had glitter on each of the ruffles that cascaded down to the hemline.
Not only her dress, but her face, her arms, and her hair were speckled with glitter.

It reminded me of why I do not like glitter.
It leaves a residue over everything.
When the concert was over I saw the sweet little boy and girl outside.
I went up to them and complimented them on their singing.

The little girl reached up to grab my hand.
I grabbed hers right back.
Her brother came over to me, not to be forgotten.
When I looked down at him, he was covered in glitter, too.

I said goodbye to the foursome; the mother and grandmother smiled and waved.
Glitter was on their arms as they waved to me.
They all sparkled.
As I reached into my purse to grab my keys, there was glitter all over my hands.

I had a brilliant idea.
I saw some wonderful gift sacks that would be perfect for a few odd sized presents.
One was especially cute, made of burlap with Santa on the front.
It had a postmark that said North Pole.

I decided that I would buy the amount that I needed.
These are really cute, the young cashier remarked.
What are you going to use them for? She asked really wanting to know.
I told the cashier what I planned to do with them.

That’s a really good idea, was the last thing I heard as I left the store.
I got into the car and looked down at my pants.
They were flecks of burlap everywhere.
My pants were covered in burlap.

I sat there I the driver’s seat and memories of glitter came rushing back.
Since I planned to use these sack for some clothes, I did not want burlap over everything.
I turned the car off and went back into the store.
This is probably the quickest return on record, I said sheepishly.

I exchanged the burlap sacks for other ones made of a heavier fabric.
The woman behind the customer service counter totally understood.
You don’t want burlap over everything, she said.
I was so tempted to tell her about my aversion to glitter but thought better of it.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death, to the other the fragrance of life. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

My daughter who is a second grade teacher loves glitter.
I on the other hand do not.
We can each have our own preferences.
It is not eternally significant if we like glitter or not.

We, who are in Christ, carry His fragrance around with us wherever we go.
Some people are blessed by the aroma of Christ.
Others find His aroma offensive.
Exuding Christ is the mark of a true Christian.

Finding Jesus Christ offensive has eternal consequences.
It is not simply a matter of personal preference.
It is a matter of eternal salvation.
Rejecting Him will keep you eternally separated from Him.

Glitter and burlap can be liked or not liked.
Saving faith in Jesus Christ cannot be dismissed so easily.
We must exude Christ.
We want to leave a residue of Him everywhere we go.

We want to sparkle and hold out the Hope we have in Him.
We want to extend our hand and leave bits of Him on everyone we greet.
Jesus Christ makes Himself known.
He uses His people to spread the knowledge of Him to others.

If you are in Christ, His fragrance in you is unmistakable.
His fragrance will linger long after you have left the room.
It is Christ’s residue that will last.
Go ahead, spread His fragrance; leave His residue wherever you go.