Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Flavors of Salt

I share something in common with more than 4 million teenagers. Nope, there are no Justin Timberlake ditties in my iPOD, in fact I don’t even own an iPOD. Nothing in my closet bears an Abercrombie & Fitch label, and if I say something is “off the bone” I’m probably referring to a breast of chicken, not a party. So what could this über quirky mommy of two possibly have in common with a fifteen-year-old? It’s all in my grin. My tin-grin. I wear braces.

When someone with small teeth and sensitive gums dons the latest in orthodontic fashions she’s likely to encounter a few canker sores or other mouthy maladies. Two weeks ago my orthodontist noticed an infected molar bordering a metal band. He quickly instructed his assistant to remove the band and counseled me to massage the gum and rinse my mouth with salt water at least three times a day. And that was it. No prescription. No suggestion to purchase a medicated mouth wash or oral antiseptic. A few swishes of common table salt dissolved in warm water were what the reputable doctor recommended. The salt water instantly soothed my sore mouth and eradicated the infection within two days.

As I was swishing, a commonly recited scripture verse bounced on my heart. You are the salt of the earth…Matthew 5:13. I’ve read that verse countless times, each time thinking of the mineral’s distinctive taste, but never considering other traits of the seasoning. Without a doubt, salt adds zip to food, but it can also promote healing. Gargling with warm salt water relieves a sore throat. Tepid salt water soaks also are known to cure fungal infections. And saline sprays abate nasal congestion.

As a grain of salt for Christ, I am commanded to add a specific flavor to the world I encounter; a taste so basic yet so essential that the complexities of its make-up are often unnoticed. Components of the flavor include patience, kindness, mercy, grace, selflessness, peace, truthfulness, hope, trust, and forgiveness. Mix those ingredients together and the created composite is love (recipe found in I Corinthians 13:4-7). And it’s a flavor needed in ever fiber of my life and my surroundings.

  • When I sit still and earnestly listen to Pumpkindoodle chatter about her everyday adventures with her imaginary diaper wearing, 11-year-old, blue feathered, high flying friend “Baby Bird,” I’m sprinkling salt on my relationship with my daughter.
  • When I stop what I’m doing and bring the ailing Professor a glass of water and assist him with class projects, I’m dashing salt on my marriage.
  • When I bring a meal to a new mother, console a hurting heart, or pardon a wrong against me, I’m dousing salt on friendships.

Pouring love into a pot of boiling affliction begets a flavor so bold, so savory, so edifying that it pleases even a woefully wounded palate. Like salt, love is more than a remedy for blandness it’s an agent of healing.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5: 13 NIV





19 comments:

Mary512 said...

hello again! yes its perfectly fine if you do it on your other blog. let me know the link so I can come check it out when you are done!

Regards, Mary @ Adventures in Mommyland

mommyland512.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Angela,
Great post. I completely enjoyed it!
Jaime

Aunt Angie said...

I have had your post up twice today to try and read, but kept getting interrupted! But not this time! Yeah! It was uplifting..."Like salt, love is more than a remedy for blandness it’s an agent of healing." It is the healing that has healed my heart/soul over and over and I am blessed by the Lord to have so many in my life to love and be loved by!
This was a great post!
Thank you for your kind words on my LWG post this morning!

Julie said...

What a beautiful post. Thank you!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I am new to blog world and it is always nice to have people stop by.

Have a blessed day,
Julie

Julie said...

What a beautiful post. Thank you!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I am new to blog world and it is always nice to have people stop by.

Have a blessed day,
Julie

Chris @ Come to the Table said...

This was absolutely beautiful!

Alana said...

Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your comment. Now I'm wondering if all chiropractors say that to their patients?

I enjoyed visiting your blog. I actually put salt directly on a canker sore. It hurts like the dickens but heals up even more quickly.

MaryBeth said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. This was a great post. I think I will definately enjoy reading more of yours. Reading through the main page I noticed a couple of similarities we have... married 8+ years, we've lived in 6 different homes in four states in those 8 years, but now we have not 2 but 4 children.

Unknown said...

What a powerful post. Smiles! Thanks for stopping by my blog and being my first blogline subcriber. I'm looking forward to reading more of your's, too!

Anonymous said...

a great post! and a great analogy. Isn't it neat how God sheds light on those things!?

Mari said...

I linked a video on my blog tonight of Israel Houghton singing Say So and part of the chorus is "To be salt and light to the world, to the world". He repeats it and it is powerful! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

outofdeepwaters.blogspot.com

Cherrye said...

Great post and great writing. I loved the introduction about teenagers with the leadway into "salt."

BTW - gargling with salt water makes me sick! YUCK. But, it does help.

DKay said...

Hi Ang - your post is very insightful! Thank you for the reminder of a good message. We all need to heal in some way or another. Keep the posts coming - you are so talented!!!

SaraLynn said...

I am very glad I discovered your blog. I have enjoyed reading several of your posts!

Joy said...

Thanks for the reminder!!! I think we sometimes forget just how special and needed we are, even if it is something we do daily, even if it is something small and seemingly insignificant.

Gretchen said...

Wow. Don't we all hate that salt water rinse?! But it sure does work. Indeed. It works. Love the analogy. Thanks for your sweet visit to my blog, too.

Blessings,
Gretchen

twinklemom said...

Hehehe...that is great...I'm actually thinking of braces eventually and I am both giddy but nervous to and this just brought a HUGE smile!

Melissa in Mel's World said...

Absolutely beautiful how you tied it all together...I tell my kids (12 and 14) almost every day that they are to be SALT in the world of Middle School!

You have an absolutely beautiful blog here and I can't wait to come back and visit more often. It is so nice to meet you!

If you get some time Come and Visit with Me at Mel's World with Melissa Mashburn! and Mel's World Travel Biz!

Amico Dio said...

This is an awesome post!! Wow, girl! I love it!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...