I’m spending each day here in the month of October writing about finding beauty in the everyday mess.  Before you think I’m an expert on this topic, let me confess: I’ve likely already lost my temper, prayed that I could have a solo vacation, and held back frustrated tears this morning.  I’m far from having this mastered.  I’m writing here transparently so that you and I might grow in seeking His daily extravagant beauty.  So pull up a chair and get ready to dive into the mess with me, knowing that somewhere in this mess is a beauty that only God can craft.

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I drank toilet water the other day.

My son was drinking water from my nightstand glass.  He set it down after a small spill and rather than let him dump it everywhere when I wasn’t looking: I picked it up and drank it down.  A couple of minutes later he comes back carrying a now full glass.  I scratch my head.  I didn’t hear the tap running.  I check the bathroom and sure enough there is a tell tale dribble of water from the toilet to the door.

I drank toilet water the other day.  And I’m pretty sure I might be the only one who has ever done that.
(If you’ve done it too, please share your story in the comments. I need to hear it.)

The innocent face of the little servant-hearted boy who tried to poison me. If he wasn’t so adorable…

But being ashamed of drinking toilet water, even if by accident, got me thinking.

Sometimes I’m so afraid that what I’m going through is unique to me that I’m embarrassed to tell the story.  Thoughts like “I’m sure everyone else’s babies sleep through the night by 6 months.” or “Surely no one else has ever had to physically and lovingly restrain their child through a tantrum.” or “I’ve got to be the only mom in the world who is jealous of her husband’s business travel.”

Dear one, you are not the only one.

You’re not the only one who has wondered if the three year old who can’t recognize the number 1 after a whole two weeks of instruction on just that one concept needs early intervention.  You’re not the only one who has left your screaming infant on the bed while you yell angry prayers at the sovereign God of the universe.  You’re not the only one who eats a chocolate chip cookie after that nasty fight with your husband.  You’re not the only one who wonders if everyone else lives this Pinterest perfect life while you just can’t get anything right.

When we feel like we’re the only one, Satan is using shame to isolate us. (<— Click to Tweet)

If you or I plucked up our courage and shared our everyday mess, we’d likely find community with it’s arms outstretched.  We’d find a friend in the mom sitting right next to us wondering if she was the only one.  And a friend would preach us the gospel in our weary moments and we would return the favor.  And that threefold cord of friendship, it binds a heart against the deception Satan wants us to believe.

That brave moment when you say, “I may be the only one who experiences this, but the other day….” frees you and the listener from the shame that keeps us both pretending we live a life of perfection.

Tell about us about your hard moments right here in the comments, and watch that sharing tear down the deception of perfection.