As I looked out my window this week, I immediately noticed the beautiful Bradford pear tree in our front yard in nearly full bloom. For a spring lover such as myself, the white flowering branches sprinkled with green unopened blooms were a sight to behold. It was a fresh and welcome sign of new life. What a wonderful gift!

There was only one problem with this hallmark moment. When my daughter and I actually went outside to get into the car, both of us were hit smack dab in the sniffer with the horrible odor of rotten meat or something equally disgusting.

She asked me, “Dad, why in the world would God create such a beautiful tree and make its blooms smell so badly?”

I answered, “Maybe he did it to help parents explain to their kids how a person can be beautiful on the outside, and still have a stinky attitude.”

She thought that was pretty funny. Who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?

Some people are a little like Bradford pears, aren't they? In fact, most of us probably have met at least a few Bradfords in our life. You know, those people who on the surface seem to be just fine, but the minute you have any dealings with them you find out they have a “tude,” as in attitude?

So, what do you do about people like that? Well honestly, there's not a lot any of us can do to change anyone, but God can. The Bible is full of quotes on this topic. For starters, “A soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1).”

Although sometimes this happens immediately, it doesn't always. God may want that person to learn the consequences of being a hothead, and that can take some time, especially if a person is particularly thick-headed or stubborn.

Jesus used the highly visible Pharisees as examples of this topic many times. In one instance, he said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness, (Matthew 23:27)."

So, the next time you see a Bradford pear tree, a chrysanthemum, a geranium, or a marigold, be sure to thank God for the beauty he created, but also remember to ask him to make you as beautiful on the inside as those creations are on the outside.

You see, God loves us more than any of his other creations. In fact, he sent his one and only son, the Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley (Song of Solomon 2:1), to die for our sins and be raised on the third day so that those who believe in him could have hope of eternal life (John 3:16).

As for all the Bradfords out there? Let God, not us, worry about them.

When we let God work on our inner self, the beauty he creates inside us will be evident to many. Then he, not us, will receive the glory.