Chocolate syrup is not a familiar item on my grocery list.  Because it's messy. I avoid purchasing messy food items. That being said, I've never been a fan of paint or arts and crafts either.  I know the outcome dealing with such items. 

But I bought chocolate syrup on Saturday.

I was feeling generous I guess.  My oldest daughter, Hallie, asked for it and my shopping companion and oldest, Hayden, reminded me to get it. Here I am this morning having spied, unsurprised, a stream and spatter of chocolate running down my white cabinets.  It's dried of course, because the culprit left it there.

The suspect was either unaware of the mess or was unable to deal with it. 

I knew it would happen.  I know it will happen again.  Even if I stop buying chocolate syrup for my kids' milk. Because there will be other messes.  That's what kids do; make messes.  It's what we do in our humanity.  We're a messy people. 

Last night our youngest's Bible Buddy group showed off their Bible skills at church.   Rylie, much like her dad is secure.  She boldly moved to the microphone as they recited the Old and New Testament.  She, and the rest of the group in sing-song , flew through the first twenty-two books with ease.  But then even though she knew the books backward and forward, Rylie got stuck in a "Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job" loop. 

Her booming loop confused the entire group so much that the leader had the group start again at Genesis only to have the same hitch. They tried a third time with Rylie's voice only slightly softened.   Willing, she  messed up three times but was never shaken.  If that's not enough, after loudly botching the books, she volunteered to recite them again aloud and alone.

She was not only comfortable making a mess, but she allowed herself to be vulnerable in front of a crowd.  I admire that.  She knows she doesn't have it all together and she's fine with that.

I'm aspiring to be more like that; in fact the chocolate syrup is still stuck to my cabinet while I'm writing.

Hayden got his driver's license today. I'd tote him around forever to avoid fender benders or worse.  Everything in my nature tells me to shake in terror as we invite the opportunity for mistakes.

But no, I'm determined to be mindful of a few things about messes.

1.Even when we strive for perfection and prepare ourselves fully, messes are still made.  Sometimes mistakes are unavoidable.

2.Mistakes teach us more than our easily-achieved successes ever could.

3. Sometimes messes are a precursor to something more beautiful than "rightness" could have ever brought about.  It was our fallen-ness that led to the cross and resurrection, the most beautiful and glorious event to ever take place.

4.Though God is ever-present, it's in our messes that we look to Him.  And he is with us in power.

5.And thank goodness, Love keeps no record of wrongs......

The match to our mess is marvelous grace.