Getting Dirty with friends?

 Madeline had an opportunity to bucket feed a horse that needed to be hosed off (he doesn't sweat so he can't cool down otherwise).   He enjoyed his meal while enjoying the cooling spray of water...
 As you can see from the photos, he likes to pick up his food and swish it in his mouth...like a fine wine. :)    Madeline ended up with a good bit on  her.  

As I looked at these pictures , it made me think...that is what REAL friendships look like.   When we try to help a friend, we sometimes come out smelling worse or looking like a mess.  Sometimes, we need friends that will just go in the trenches with us...not enjoyable...not pretty...but necessary.
Sometimes,  meeting a friend's need is not what our flesh desires and we aren't "fed" or built up by the experience.   Sometimes, it just calls for us to be selfless and take the muck to help them through.

Sometimes we end up looking like the bad guy..(the one covered in filth)... but if we pursue our friends in love... pursue their hearts... pursue for them to be "fed".... pursue the best for them.... Then,isn't it all worth it?  After all, isn't that what love is?    So, thank you for those who "bear with me in love".   Thank you for those who make "EVERY effort"  to maintain unity... What a blessing you are!!!

Ephesians 4 

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit —just as you were called to one hope when you were called — ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[a] says:

“When he ascended on high,
he led captives in his train
and gave gifts to men.”^[b]

⁹ (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions^[c]? ¹⁰ He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) ¹¹ It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹² to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

¹⁴ Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. ¹⁵ Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. ¹⁶ From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.