There are certain smells that are like a heavenly aroma to me … like the scent of fresh-cut grass wafting through the open window. Another one of my favorites is the fabric softener in freshly laundered clothing.

After some out-of-town guests departed last week, I was washing all the bedding in the house and an amusing memory came to mind.

Back in 2013 when my mom was alive and living with us, I decided that it was time to wash our bed sheets one morning. I got them started and my mom, in her always-helpful way, finished them up for me. When I went into my room later in the day to make the bed, it made me smile that the whole room was filled with the sweet fragrance of fabric softener.

A little goes a long way

Later that evening, James and I decided to watch a couple of recorded TV shows. So, we got into our pajamas, brushed our teeth, and climbed into bed to watch our programs. As I slid between the crisp, clean sheets of our freshly made bed, I commented on how much I adore the smell of clean sheets. It is one of life’s simple pleasures that brings me great joy!

That feeling did not last long, however. Within minutes, both James and I noticed how strong the fabric softener scent was. In fact, it was quite overwhelming. I realized I had gone overboard when I added to the load of bedding a heaping capful of the new laundry scent booster I had recently purchased.

Well, it boosted the scent all right! Whew, did it ever!

I learned a valuable lesson that night … a little goes a long way.

It’s possible to overdo a good thing

Whether it’s putting too much fabric softener in a load of laundry, adding too much seasoning to a recipe, eating too many sweets, spending too much time on social media, or focusing too much on a challenging situation, it’s possible to overdo a good thing. A little really does go a long way!

Kindness can go a long way, too!

On the other hand, it’s helpful to be reminded that a little kindness and generosity can go a long way, too. It doesn’t take much effort to make someone’s day brighter with a kind word, a smile, letting someone go ahead of you in line, holding the door open for a stranger, making a family member’s favorite meal, or any number of small, but meaningful gestures.

Pertaining to life and godliness

As I think about my lesson in “a little goes a long way,” this passage from 2 Peter comes to mind:

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 1:2-8

Are there areas in your life where you’ve gone overboard and realized that a little goes a long way? What are some small ways you can bring light and life to others as you go about your day?