Don't Blame the Mud by Marty Machowski

Don't Blame the Mud by Marty Machowski

Don’t Blame the Mud is a relatable, gospel-centered story that helps children understand that wrong choices come from the heart—and that true change comes through Jesus.

In this engaging and beautifully illustrated tale, Max learns a hard lesson after choosing a muddy shortcut and trying to hide the consequences of his actions. What begins as a simple mistake reveals a deeper problem, as Max discovers that the real issue isn’t the mud on his clothes but the sin in his heart—something only Jesus can truly cleanse.

Written by Marty Machowski, this story goes beyond surface behavior to address the root of temptation and sin in a way children can understand. It equips parents and caregivers to guide kids toward honest confession and lasting heart change, pointing them to the hope and freedom found in the gospel rather than blame-shifting or quick fixes.

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for over thirty years. He is the author of The Gospel Story Bible, Long Story Short, Old Story New, the Gospel Story Curriculum, the Prepare Him Room advent devotional and curriculum, Wise Up family devotional and curriculum, Listen Up family devotional and curriculum, Dragon Seed, The Ology, Don't Blame the Mud, Parenting First Aid, and Parenting First Aid Study Guide. He and his wife, Lois, have six children and two grandchildren, and they reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Craig MacIntosh was a newspaper political cartoonist and illustrator for over twenty years and was the artist for the widely published cartoon strip Sally Forth. He and his wife, Linda, live in Minnesota and have two grown children.