Don't Blame the Mud, by Marty Machowski, illustrated by Craig McIntosh

At some point, we all must take accountability for our own sin.  Marty Machowski's story Don't Blame the Mud illustrates this step of maturity in a simple way.  With illustrations by Craig McIntosh, Machowski tells the story of Max, who, despite his mother's warnings to keep his school uniform clean, choosing to walk home on the path by the creek rather than on the road.  After a few close calls, Max falls, soiling his school clothes, just like Mom said.

Feeling an urgent need to cover up the consequences of his disobedience, he sneaks to his room and sheds his dirty clothes, leaving a trail of mud.  He then lies to his parents about how he got dirty: "It's not my fault that I slipped and fell. . . . It's the mud's fault.  It wasn't me."  When his parents confront him with the obvious, he feels a deep sense of conviction, and his parents take the opportunity to teach him about sin, repentance, and God's plan for forgiveness.

Machowski includes tips to help parents talk to their children about the gospel.  It's a simple story, but with a profound purpose: turning children's hearts away from sin and toward Jesus.  The lesson holds for believers of all ages.  Just as Max strayed closer and closer to the mud, so do we place ourselves in proximity to sin.  It's a message we should never stop hearing and a lesson we all need to hear and pass along to our children and other younger Christians.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!