Little Sunday Story: Muddy Buddies

Muddy Buddies

by Ashley Karges

Mar 15, 2026

John 9:1-41                        

- God can turn the “mud” in our lives into something beautiful.

- Ask God to open your eyes to the ways he is working in the “muddiness”

of your life.

Malulabelle hopped on her pink bike and pedaled up the hill. Ring, ring! She loved her little bike bell. “Let’s go, Coconut!”

“Ruff!” Coconut, her little fluffy pup, pounced alongside Malulabelle. He had a little bell, too, on his collar.

Malulabelle had plans to meet her friend, Gabby, just up the hilly path. The hill was steep, and wet from the recent snowmelt. Mud collected on Malulabelle’s tires.

“Oh no, Coconut. I’m stuck!” She hopped off to push. But the sludge was so thick, she lost her shoe with one step. “Coconut, what are we going to do?”

“Ruff!” One glance at Coconut made Malulabelle giggle. He was covered in mud, head to tail.

“I thought I heard you guys!” Gabby shouted from the top of the hill. She ran toward her muddy buddies.

The girls giggled again at the sight of their mess. “I guess playtime is right here today!” laughed Malulabelle.

“Who can make the biggest mud pie!”

“I’m thinking chocolate brownies!”

The friends created lots of muddy goodies, topped with pebbles and leaves. Even Coconut joined the fun, fetching sticks and pinecones for garnish.

“What’s this?” Gabby looked closer at a hole she dug. “A worm!”

“Perfect! He can join the fun.”

This gave Malulabelle a new thought. She could hardly contain her joy. “Gabby, this is the best playdate ever. I feel so happy! Will you pray with me?”

“Yes!”

The girls folded their hands. “Jesus, I thought this mud was going to ruin our play time today. But you turned it into pure fun. You even showed us that there is life to enjoy if we look deep inside the mud. Thank you, Jesus.”

Sometimes our plans can get muddy, can’t they? But God works through our muddiness to show us the beauty underneath. He will never turn us away. Instead of focusing on the “mud” in our life, we can ask God to help wash it away and make us clean again.