A split skirt, a wandering child, and a reminder from Jesus about grace, judgment, and seeing people clearly
Y’all.
Today, in church, I had a major wardrobe malfunction.
And not in children’s church.
Not in the hallway.
Not during snack time.
No.
This happened in big church.
With the grown-ups.
The Sunday after Christmas.
Because I had the brilliant idea to cancel children’s church since surely no one would be there except my kids. We could do one Sunday together in the grown-up service, and for once, I might actually hear a sermon all the way through.
We went in. Sat in the back.
Kids on the floor beside me with crayons and snacks.
As I lowered myself down to sit with them…
Riiip.
Not loud enough to echo.
Not quiet enough to pretend it didn’t happen.
I realized very quickly that the back of my skirt had ripped halfway to the pockets—and my nearly bare rear end was now planted firmly on the church floor.
I couldn’t stand up.
I couldn’t shift.
And I definitely couldn’t get my husband’s attention without turning the sanctuary into a cautionary tale.
So there I sat.
Frozen.
Praying the service moved quickly.
Meanwhile, Monkey Boy did what Monkey Boy does best—wandered. He played sweetly for a while with an older woman nearby, and I thought, Okay. We’re surviving.
Until suddenly, he took off—
straight toward the front of the church.
Right next to the preacher.
I’m stuck.
Still.
Unable to move without showing the entire congregation my underpants.
And then the woman he’d been playing with turned around.
She cut her eyes at me.
Snapped her fingers.
Pointed.
And gave me that look.
You know the one.
Why isn’t she handling her kid?
She’s lazy.
She doesn’t watch her children.
Ma’am, I would love to.
But I’m also trying not to moon the sanctuary.
Normally? I’d be on him like white on rice.
Today? Today modesty is winning.
But the wave of judgment came anyway. Whispers. Assumptions. Conclusions drawn without context.
And suddenly, my mortifying moment became a living sermon.
Beams, Motes, and Split Skirts
Jesus said:
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)
We love this verse—until it applies to us.
From the outside, all that woman saw was a mom “not parenting.”
What she couldn’t see was the beam-sized rip in my skirt holding me hostage on the floor.
Isn’t that how it always goes?
We judge the behavior without knowing the battle.
We critique the reaction without seeing the reason.
We assume laziness when it’s actually desperation.
And don’t misunderstand me. The lady did not act ugly toward me, other than snapping her fingers and pointing. And from her perspective, I can see where a mom not getting her kid would be frustrating. Sometimes that’s how it goes. One point of view is very different than the other.
Jesus didn’t say, “Never notice anything.”
He said, check yourself first.
Because what looks like disobedience might be someone doing their best.
What looks like neglect might be survival.
What looks like indifference might be a quiet panic no one else can see.
Judge Not… Because You Don’t Know
Jesus also said:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” (Matthew 7:1)
Not because discernment is bad—but because we never see the full story.
You don’t know who just heard a rip and felt panic rise in their chest.
You don’t know who is one wrong move away from humiliation.
You don’t know what someone is holding together by sheer grace and one very small thread
So maybe next time, instead of snapping fingers…
We extend grace.
We offer help.
We assume there’s more going on than meets the eye.
Because one day, it might be your skirt.
Or your kid.
Or your moment stuck on the floor praying the service ends quickly.
And you’ll want mercy more than judgment.
Amen—and pass the sewing kit.
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Key Scripture
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” — Matthew 7:1
Guided Prayer
Lord,
Help me slow down before I judge.
Remind me that I don’t see the whole story—only a moment.
Give me eyes to see people the way You see them,
and a heart that chooses grace over assumptions.
When I’m tempted to point out a speck,
help me check for the beam first.
Make me someone who offers mercy,
especially when I don’t understand.
Amen.
Devotional Action Steps
- Pause before judging: The next time something irritates you, stop and ask, “What might I not be seeing?”
- Offer help instead of critique: A gentle hand is often holier than a sharp look.
- Practice invisible grace: Choose kindness even when no one notices—especially then.
- Reflect: When was a time you were misunderstood? How did grace change that moment?
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