Every day is a new beginning. I keep reminding myself of that. Every moment I could choose to start fresh. Life can get overwhelming at times. Especially when you have a heart to help, serve and love others and so many “others” are struggling in their life. Not that I don’t also struggle. As a matter of fact I struggle often which is why I think I can be sensitive to people who need an encouraging word, friend or even better, the hope message of Jesus.

My work with refugees keeps me humble. Not just the work with refugees, but the poor. And not just the poor financially but the poor in spirit. I remind myself that I cannot “fix” all the situations that my friends, family or passerby’s are in. I remind myself that when their lives are in chaos, I am not. I whisper this to myself sometimes when I see chaos around me: “This is their chaos and NOT yours, Jamie.” I have to careful myself not to jump into their chaos and take it on as my own. I have to recognize it is their mishaps, frustrations, fear, drama or struggles and be willing to stand firmly with love on the foundation of Jesus even if that means I have to stand with them in the mud. If I am not rooted and on a firm foundation then I too will be shaken and then we may all fall down or sink in the mud. Then, what help will I be to anyone?

This concept of “standing in the mud” with my friends was in part taught to me by my dear friends, The Cromwell’s, whom my husband and I have traveled overseas with on several occasions. God makes beautiful things out of (dust) mud. Sometimes we have to stand in it and work through it to grow, to understand, to get stronger, to know who is really in charge and to break down our own agendas. We cannot always avoid the mud. When someone is in the mud of life (difficult life situations) it’s a little easier if they are not in the mud alone. What two people can do together is a lot more than what one person can do alone. Two in the mud is better than one. Two in the mud both loving and praying to God for wisdom and help is even better.

Another thing, when it’s your turn to stand in the mud, it’s nice to know:

1) You aren’t the first one who stood in it.
2). You aren’t currently standing in the mud alone. Many others are dealing with it too.
3). That the person standing next to you in the mud has been in it before.
4). You could be there a long time but it’s worth it in the end. Learn from the experience while your there.
5). That there is A Way out, but it might not be the way you expected.

Standing beside a friend in the mud requires me to first put on love. I cannot always give instruction. I must listen to them. I must be patient. I must be willing to stand my friend back up if they fall and encourage them to try again. Realize and admit that I don’t have all the answers. I can only state the facts or share my experiences, but the choices must be my friends. I must allow my friend to reach and not bring to them my own solutions. I must love them where they are and help them to see the things their position may blind them to. I must be willing to pray on their behalf not our will but His.

(After typing this, I could see this concept in many different lights. As Asha’s Refuge presses forward, I pray that we will be willing to stand in the mud with our friends, first with love, always remembering that sometimes the mud is the very place our lives and hearts become renewed and clean.)