I’m a sucker for a happy ending.  Whether it’s a Hallmark commercial, a video of a soldier surprising their family, or a sappy movie; you can bet I’ll cry.  Last night, there was no doubt this is true.  Curled up on the couch, I got lost in a movie I’d recorded. In the last minutes of the story, all the problems were solved, the characters were going to live happily ever after, and tears trickled down my cheeks gathering at the corners of my mouth.  Their brininess remained on my tongue even after I’d visited the tissue box. Why do you think God filled our tears with salt? I don’t know what the answer is, but it did get me thinking. (Oh boy, hold on!)

“Salt is good for seasoning.  But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other.”

Mark 9:50 (NLT)

Have the “qualities of salt”? Now that’s something you don’t hear everyday! What are they? Do I have them? Do you?

One thing I know for sure about salt is – I love it! Probably too much…. but it just makes almost everything taste better! So, maybe we need to shake things up by adding good flavor to a world where many things are happening that leave a bad taste in our mouths. By infusing God’s love into every relationship, situation, and challenge; we have the opportunity to enhance each experience and maybe even cause others to want more!

Thinking back to my days teaching Second Grade, our Pioneers unit was always a highlight.  In that, we learned that having no refrigeration meant the people who lived long ago had to salt their meat to keep it from rotting. Salt not only adds flavor to things, it also preserves them. It makes sense then, that we are to act as a “cure” that protects traits like common sense, respect, honesty, kindness, and integrity.  I don’t know about you, but everywhere I look today, whether  on Facebook, TV, Twitter, or in the newspaper, I see a world in decay.  Instead of worrying or ignoring what seems overwhelming, like salt; we need to make it our goal  to season the world with peace, prayer, and the Good News of Jesus as a way to lead others to the One True Way of preservation.

Have you ever thought about all the ways salt can be used? I hadn’t until now. It reminds me of summers, when I was growing up. They were filled with swimming in the lake, catching fireflies, and making homemade ice-cream on the cottage porch. We took turns churning. It took a while and it wasn’t easy, but it would have taken a lot longer if it weren’t for the addition of salt to the ice to help it melt more quickly. And, at least around here; salt is put on winter roads to keep them from freezing and becoming dangerous. Let’s face it, we don’t always get a happy ending.  Life. Is. Hard.  It often leads us down the slippery slope of despair and that can lead to icy, cold hearts.  Maybe as “the salt of the earth” we are to find ways to make life and hearts just a little softer. Smile more. Give more. Help more. Listen more. Love more. Pray more.

I definitely don’t think I’m salty enough… yet. I’ve got some work to do. So, maybe that’s the answer I’ve been looking for. Why did God make our tears salty? To remind us, in good times and bad, to continue to become a person who possesses the qualities of salt, to live in peace with one another, and to freely pour out our flavor wherever we are. If everyone would do that, it WOULD be a happy ending! (cue the tears…)

Linking up with #livefreeThursday (I know, late again) . Suzi’s prompt this week was “salt”. You can read more here http://www.tsuzanneeller.com