“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

1 Peter 4:8

The moment I hit the ground, I knew everyone saw it.

One second, I was running across my elementary schoolyard, the next, my foot slipped, and I crashed into a deep puddle of mud. My clothes were ruined, my hair matted with dirt. The last thing I wanted was to stand up and face the stares.

I felt humiliated.

To get cleaned up, I would have no choice but to walk through the school like this. The thought of it made my face burn.

That is when my friend, without missing a beat, took off her jacket and wrapped it around me. She did not make a big deal out of it or make me feel awkward.

She did not try to fix my mess. She just wanted to help.

And somehow, that changed everything.

The shame did not feel as heavy. The walk did not feel as long. What should have been one of my most embarrassing moments turned into a memory of kindness I have never forgotten.

Her simple act of kindness meant so much, because instead of focusing on the mess I was in, I was able to focus on her support. She gave me the confidence to walk to the office without feeling humiliated, and I’ll always remember how she stepped in without a second thought.

Now, I wonder—What if we did the same? What if, instead of looking away, we leaned in?

People around us are walking through life feeling exposed—not with muddy clothes, but with regrets, shame, and insecurity. They feel exposed and wish someone would step in and offer them dignity instead of judgment.

What if your kindness was the reason someone lifted their head instead of hanging it in shame? Like Jesus, we can meet people in their lowest moments and cover them with grace and love. You may never know. It might just be the very thing that reminds them they are never to broken, too messy, or too far gone.