10/12/2026
The Fragrance of Fall
I was thinking about how much I love this time of year. After such a long, hot summer, there is something refreshing about that first crisp chill in the air. I love the pumpkin patches, the decorations, the soups, the family activities, and all the little things that make fall feel so special. And before we know it, fall leads us right into Christmas.
But there is something else that tells me fall has finally arrived, the camellias in our yard.
Every year around this time, our camellia trees begin giving off the most amazing aroma. When I open my front door and breathe it in, I cannot help but smile. That fragrance has become one of the things that tells me, fall is here.
It makes me think about how often God uses the simple things around us to remind us of His goodness. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Just as nature moves through different seasons, so do we. There are seasons of joy, seasons of difficulty, seasons of growth, and seasons of waiting. Sometimes we understand what God is doing, and sometimes we do not.
But every season has a purpose.
Isaiah 43:19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” Sometimes God is doing something new right in front of us, but we are so focused on what was that we do not notice what is becoming.
That’s why I think we need to slow down. If I am rushing out the door thinking about everything I need to do, I could easily walk past those camellias without ever noticing their fragrance. And I wonder how often we do the same thing with God’s blessings. He is giving us beautiful moments, but we are too busy thinking about yesterday or worrying about tomorrow.
Psalm 118:24 reminds us, “The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.” Maybe we simply need to stop sometimes and appreciate the day God has given us; to enjoy our families, our homes, our blessings, and the little things we might otherwise miss.
And perhaps that is what I love most about that fragrance. It does nott demand my attention. It simply fills the air, and when I slow down enough to notice it, it brings me joy.
It makes me think about the way our lives can quietly affect the people around us, too. We may never realize the impact of a kind word, a patient response, a smile, or a little grace. Yet those small things can leave something behind in someone’s heart.
Second Corinthians 2:15 says, “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ.”
What a beautiful thought, that our lives can carry something of Jesus with them. When people spend time with us, do they experience His kindness, His grace, His patience, and His love?
We never know what someone else may be carrying. A simple act of kindness may be exactly what someone needs that day. Ephesians 5:2 tells us to “walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
We do not have to be perfect. We simply need to allow Christ’s love to show through us.
I also love that fall is a season of preparation. We begin getting ready for gatherings and traditions, and eventually we arrive at Christmas. In the same way, God may use the season we are in now to prepare us for what comes next. The waiting may teach us patience. The difficult season may be building our faith. The quiet season may be teaching us to listen.
And then Christmas reminds us of the greatest gift of all. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Jesus came into our world and brought us hope.
The seasons change, our circumstances change, and our lives change, but Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
So, when I open my door this fall and smell those camellias, I am going to try to pause and appreciate it. I’m going to let that fragrance remind me to be thankful for the season I’m in, to notice God’s blessings, and to remember that He is always at work.
And perhaps that’s the real reminder hidden in something as simple as a flower, God is present in the ordinary moments, if we are willing to slow down and notice.
Just as those camellias tell me that fall has arrived, may our lives quietly tell the people around us that Jesus is here.
What a beautiful thing that would be.
Blessings,
Brittnye Lee, DMin
Associate Pastor for Family Ministry
Imagine Church of the Carolinas
980-999-3500 (Church)
704-718-1479 (Cell)
imaginechurchnow.org
