2 Corinthians 2

Today two new little girls joined our family. We don't know how long they will stay. When I was visiting with our day care provider, an old friend I used to work with as a teacher, she said something that struck me as really profound. "Well, I'm just glad you can be loving parents to them. You know, not everyone can be a loving parent."

I always thought I would be filled with rage if anything bad ever happened to a child I loved. But as we are going through this process, God has really shown us that everyone involved is just broken. They are incapable of being a loving parent. They couldn't possibly know how or have the capacity for that kind of selflessness. Verses 5-11 just remind me that the only appropriate response for us as we get to know their mom later is just forgiveness.

More importantly, verse 11 reminds us that unforgiveness is an evil scheme of satan. It's not an option for us to even harbor bitterness in our hearts towards anyone involved. Forgiveness is the only way to deflect satan and keep him out of these relationships.

So now, as the end points out, our task is to be a sweet fragrance for the lost and broken in the world. To smell like Christ both to them and to God. To be aromatherapy for the hurt and helpless.