How do you handle someone else’s problem?

About a year or so ago, Amy and I were in full potty-training mode with our daughter Reagan. It was a Thursday night, and I was tasked with taking care of the kids while Amy went to music practice at the church. Reagan told me she needed to go to the bathroom, so being the good parent that I am, I told her to go to the bathroom and I would be there in a couple minutes. She proceeded to make her way to the bathroom, shedding her clothes in the process. About 5 minutes passed, and I realized that my sweet, precious, beautiful little girl had not yet made it back to the living room. Right about the time I got up to investigate, she came bounding in and, sticking her hands in my face, said, “Look, Daddy! Look!” She had attempted to clean herself up, but she had poop on her fingers.

In that moment, I had a choice. Repulsed by the image before me, I could tell her to go back to the bathroom by herself (and don’t touch anything), or I could go with her and help her clean up the mess. I’m not going to lie; I thought about telling her to clean it herself, but don’t worry… I went in there and got her cleaned up.

Later that night as I was recovering from the mental image of having poop shoved in my face, this thought hit me: That’s life. When people come to us with their huge, messy problems, we have to decide: Are we going to walk with them, or are we going to walk away?

When the moment arises, how do you handle the problem? Maybe it’s a regretful teenager who tells you she gave up her virginity, or a co-worker that admits to stealing from the company. Maybe it’s a friend that confides in you that he has been unfaithful.

I have to be honest; it would be easy to say, “You created the mess, so you can clean it up.”

Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more… Romans 5:20 (ESV)

You and I won’t know all the answers to give people when they come to us, but what we do know is that there is a gift of Grace that abounds all the more over sin. Grace doesn’t excuse the mess, but it helps clean up the mess. Grace walks with. It doesn’t walk away.

I want to give Grace, because I have been given Grace. We all have sinned (Romans 3:23), but because of the finished work of Jesus on the Cross and our belief in Him, we can receive and also give Grace.

I am committed to helping clean up the mess with Grace. Will you join me? Let’s extend Grace in life’s messy moments.