What Makes My Kids Cry Today

Friday morning started with a smell I’ll never forget.

Before coffee, before quiet time, before anyone in my house was fully awake… my dog had his very first run-in with a skunk. And if you’ve never experienced it in real life, let me just say this: cartoons do not do it justice. The smell doesn’t just sit in the air. It clings. It follows you. It fills every space it can find.

There I was, standing in the yard in my pajamas, frantically Googling “what do you do when your dog gets sprayed by a skunk?” People always say tomato juice, right? Well, turns out that’s a myth. The real solution? Peroxide, dish soap, and baking soda. It dries almost like a flea dip. So yes, that’s how I started my Friday—turning my dog into a backyard science experiment at six in the morning.

And here’s the kicker: even after all that scrubbing, we could still smell it. Especially on his nose. Every time he came up to snuggle, we got that not-so-lovely reminder… yep, the skunk is still with us.

When the Stink Lingers

As silly as it sounds, that morning got me thinking about life.

Sometimes, our “skunk moments” don’t wash away instantly. The argument, the stress, the mistake, the bill that showed up at the wrong time—they cling to us. We pray, we push forward, we do what we can, but the weight (or the smell) doesn’t disappear right away.

That’s where Psalm 46:1 has been my anchor: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Even when life stinks, He doesn’t run away. He steps in close. He stays present when everything else feels messy.

Three Reminders for Stinky Days

If your Monday is off to a rough start, here are three things I’m reminding myself:

Pause before reacting. Laughter kept me from panicking on Friday. Shift your focus. At least the skunk didn’t get inside the house! Remember God’s presence. Unlike the smell that lingers, His goodness never fades.

A Word for You

Friend, if you’re carrying a little stink into this new week, take heart. The smell won’t last forever. But God’s goodness will.

And if you ever find yourself Googling “what to do when your dog gets sprayed by a skunk,” now you know: skip the tomato juice, grab the peroxide.

👉 Listen to the full episode here [https://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-life-stinks-literally–67503525]