2026 January #1
By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF)
Looking back over life’s events can sometimes cause a person to wonder “what if?”
What if they had never met “so-and-so?”
What if they had never done “that certain thing?”
What if they had taken the job offer that “sounded too good to be true?”
There could potentially be a “what if?” question to every part of our lives, if we chose to question them.
Some of the questions could be about the negative things in our lives…
Could we have had a better outcome?
While other questions could be about wondering if the good things in our lives would have had a completely different outcome if we had chosen a different path.
Most of the time, it’s best to focus on the future and the road ahead, instead of looking back over our shoulder with regret.
But, there are times when it is good to reflect on where a person has been and take note of the present location. Sometimes, it’s a satisfying feeling to know that a decision was finally the right one to make.
That’s where Mia (not her real name) found herself. She and her husband arrived on our doorstep needing some clear direction for their circumstance.
Here’s her story:
When I was young, I was molested by some family members. I made it fairly easy for them because I had already been experimenting with drugs and alcohol. But, after that incident, I felt so dirty that I spun out of control on them.
Then, my mom died of cancer, and later, my dad got sick and died. I fell into the false hope that using drugs and alcohol would help me “handle” the constant anxiety, and it would all go away. It didn’t.
It’s been a hard road for me…
But, I did fall in love and got married. We had a hard time making ends meet, though. Then, the bank foreclosed on the house we were in, so we began staying in a motel. When the money ran out for that, we lived out of our car. We survived some pretty cold nights during that time.
Life was just hard. I wound up overdosing several times. The last time, I asked God not to let me die in my sin. When we were sober enough to make good decisions, we decided to move to Albuquerque. That’s when we found out about this place. [Joy Junction]
We joined the Christ in Power Program and finally feel that we are where we need to be. The Bible study is helping us get back on the right path – not only in life, but with God.
Our mental and spiritual condition has improved tremendously! We now feel that God led us here.
Many times, financial hardship is what causes families to become homeless. They fall into a crisis because of a medical emergency, a vehicle accident, a death of someone close, or some other major heartbreaking situation, like addiction – as in Mia’s situation.
We certainly do not want anyone in that situation to get to the place where they don’t care if they live or die – which is the place many on the streets wind up, mentally and emotionally. It’s a good thing when they choose to get help from those who know how to direct their future.
When unhoused people wind up at our shelter, we work hard to make sure they feel wanted and safe. We want them to feel comfortable, and to share their heartaches with us, so we will have a better idea of how to help them.
Sometimes, it only takes a month or two to get their situation turned around. But, for the most part, it takes a much longer time to get their household position transitioned from having no place to call home, to being able to start fresh again in a “new” home.
Daily encouragement is a vital part of our care system. People may feel “less than” when they arrive, but it’s our goal to change that feeling into a “more than ever dreamed possible” emotional result. Our desire is to have a supportive relationship with them.
During the beginning of this new year, we hope to plant a mental and emotional picture, in the minds and hearts of our guests, of a brand new start for them. We truly do want them to have a wonderful life away from the stigma of a homeless title.
Starting fresh is a good idea for anyone who finds themselves in a difficult, hard-to-resolve life situation. Turning the corner, so to speak, to see a completely different view of their life puts an excitement into their hearts. It’s a good feeling to know there is a light at the end of a long, hard tunnel.
Life really can be a difficult, demanding, or challenging situation at times. When unexpected things place someone in such a hard circumstance as homelessness, it requires a lot of effort to overcome the situation. The uphill climb may seem impossible.
But, with the right kind of care and assistance, there actually is a way out. We are here to help with that!
