Mud, Manure and Miracles

A true (and slightly gross) story from Children’s Church. Also, my stomach still hasn’t recovered.

Today in children’s church, I taught the story from John 9, you know, the one where Jesus heals the blind man using the most unconventional eye care method known to man: spit and mud. Forget cucumbers and chamomile tea. Jesus went full DIY dermatology with a little dirt and divine saliva.

Naturally, I decided the best way to make this lesson stick (pun fully intended) was to do what any self-respecting, object-lesson-loving children’s minister would do: make mud live, in front of the kids.

Dirt + water = immediate “EWWWW!” from the kids. Success! I even went the extra mile and rubbed it on my own eyes and face  like Jesus did, because I am a professional. lol….

Later, I told my husband Frank all about it. I told him  how I made the mud,  and put it on my  face and eyes, and bravely taught the lesson like a mud-covered missionary. He asked, “Did you use the new dirt they laid down in the yard?”

I said, “Some of it, yeah, but most came from the red clay on the side of the hill. It was super messy, but hey, on the bright side,  my hands and face are baby soft now!”

And that’s when Frank casually dropped a bombshell, “That new dirt’s not just dirt, it’s mixed with manure to help the grass grow.”  Cue the pause. Cue the slow-motion flashbacks. Cue the internal gag reflex. Manure. On my face, my hands, and at church. I was out there anointing myself with organic fertilizer in the name of Jesus.

But after the nausea wore off… a deeper truth hit me. Isn’t that exactly how God works?

We bring Him our mess, our regrets, our broken pieces, our dirt and somehow, He adds what feels like even more mess to the mix. Sometimes it smells worse before it gets better. Sometimes it looks like setbacks. Sometimes it is manure. But guess what? That’s the stuff growth is made of. The good soil is never just soil it’s the nasty stuff that fuels new life.

Jesus didn’t make mud pies for fun, He made miracles. He took something simple and messy and turned it into healing. And He still does.

So, whether you’re feeling spiritually muddy, emotionally messy, or just wondering why everything around you stinks (literally or figuratively), take heart. God can use even the stinkiest situations for your healing, your growth, and His glory.

And as a bonus, my skin is glowing. Manure mask 10/10, would not recommend, but God definitely made it work.