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I never thought it would happen to me.

Under the canopy of the black night and the howling of a storm I frantically loaded my family into the car. My heart raced as we sped to our destination. Questions swirled and my anxiousness grew as our 30-minute ride felt longer than it should.

Still in a frenzy, I now unloaded my little guys distracted by the day that awaited us. And then it hit me …

Did we not bring their shoes?

Three boys under the age of five strapped snuggly in their car seats wiggled their bare toes and grinned at me.

I know you expected something worse. But go with me here for a minute.

This would be totally fine if we were unloading at home or Grandma’s house, but we weren’t. No, our next steps took us inside the airport. Then a plane. Then another airport. Another plane. One more airport. Then finally home.

And my boys were barefoot. Aaaaaah!

We were already running late and had no other option. I lowered my head in disgust and tried not to think about everything that fell on those floors.

I worked to keep them seated, but to no avail. They galloped and leaped, ran and skipped all over the nasty airport grounds. All. Day. (Did I mention the multi-hour delay at one airport?)

Oh, the stares. The judgment glances and open mouths. What kind of mother brings her kids to the airport without shoes?? Some probably felt sorry for me. Some probably felt sorry for the kids. Luke audibly spoke of what terrible parents we were. It was bad.

We scrubbed their toes good that night and lived to tell about it. Although we don’t tell of it often. Who wants to repeat a story like that?

But we should.

Some of us need a dose of humility every now and then. Others of us need a dose of reality.

This world and its rulers love to let us know how we come up short. Look at her. She has it all together. Her kids would never act like that. Her house would never look like this.

We hear it. Believe it. Then suffocate trying to fix ourselves and others.

Girls, I want to tell you today. I don’t have it all together. My bathroom needs to be cleaned and my laundry piles cover the floor. My kids mess up and so do I – Every. Day.

But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

I live by God’s grace and nothing more. We all do. So maybe today you need to give yourself, or someone else, a break. Maybe you need to ask God for perspective. Take that perfect someone off their pedestal and see the reality of God’s grace made perfect in their weakness.

God’s not looking for your perfect offering. He just wants you, flaws and all. Will you lower your head and bring it to him? He’ll scrub the yucky grime away and you’ll live to tell about it.

Copyright © 2021 by Katy McCown @https://katymccown.com/2014/10/29/in-case-you-thought-i-was-perfect/ No part of this article may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from Lifeword.org.