Sweeter than Cinnamon

March 19, 2025

Chaplain LaVina’ Viny” Burns

It was good to have Jim home again, yet I was totally supportive of him going to see his mom for her last few hours on earth. He stayed on in California (Oct. 18, 2018) for her funeral. My time at home had been spent staying extremely busy and meeting several deadlines. I would like to think I have a sharp mind to be organized, creating an easier schedule, but that is not always the case. I felt like I was running around like a chicken with its’ head cut off!

For instance, one morning I got my stuff ready to take a shower. The first thing accomplished was to put a handful of cinnamon toothpaste in my hand instead of shampoo. LOL It is amazing how your mind stops you from smearing it all over your head at just the last second. LOL

I was thinking, no it would not have been life or death, but what it would have been was a mess! Sometimes in life, it is not what we do is so tremendously right or wrong, but because we are so busy, we get things jumbled together. When we need to walk, we run, or when we need to sit and be quiet, we talk – you get the point! That is how I had become. Finally, when everything I touched turned into a disaster, I knew it was time to stop and regroup! What is organization if you fumble even shampooing your hair with toothpaste! Well, it would have had a nice cinnamon smell! LOL

Did you know we sometimes treat serving God like that? We get so involved with so many things that our “organized” ministry life begins to smell and not often like cinnamon! Get my drift? We begin to scramble to get this done or that and finally in the end, we have shotty work – not done in excellence for our Savior. I say, STOP – take a breath – and regroup! By regrouping, I mean on our knees. Let us get the Lord involved in what He would want us to do or not to do! Then, what we have peace about – let us give 100% of our energy to the task ahead of us!

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV)

10) Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”

Colossians 3:23-24, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

So, before you put toothpaste in your hair, stop and take a breath. Slow down or you may end up smelling sweeter than cinnamon. Yes, work, but make sure it is what you are supposed to be doing!