Flowering Jasmine

Tom Knight on the Our House Plants site describes Jasmine, which, he claims:

…rivals the Hyacinth in the smelly stakes, coming second in the beauty contest, but winning first place for longevity in the home. The Hyacinth is a temporary guest at best, but the Jasmine will be happy in your home all year if the conditions and care provided is right.

My jasmine is now in full flower, and the pungency of its sweet (and possibly sickly) scent seems capable of filling the parlour. Although a rather thirsty plant and one which will grow into a tangled knot given half the chance, these spring flowers are especially welcome, offering a better and cheaper scent than some artificial, chemical-based room freshener.

The Sons of Korah wrote in Psalm 45 of the coming Messiah whom they beheld from afar:

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your kingdom.

You love righteousness and hate wickedness;

Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia,

Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.

Kings’ daughters are among Your honourable women;

At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.

His scented garments surely alerted people to His arrival before they saw Him. So the twice-coming Messiah can be detected in our hearts, homes and fellowships as His actual arrival on our planet draws near. I hope He returns soon, though I am grateful for His sweet presence in our prayer meetings and times of worship.

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