Friends who’ll sit with you in the in-between and ‘I’m not really OK’

A friend and I took a trip this week to the mountains for some girl time and, of course, Starbucks coffee since we don’t live close to one. On our drive, she asked how I was doing — a genuine, “Really, how are you doing?”

I paused for a minute and knew I needed to be authentic in my response. Crazy the temptation to only say “fine” when you’re not.

“I’m struggling. It’s hard. I feel like I’m stuck in the in-between. And that’s just where I’m at. I wish I could sugarcoat it.”

She listened intently and understood my words. Deep down, the pride in me wanted to say I was fine. Really, I’m fine.

But I’m not, and it’s OK. Like many of you, I miss routine, the excitement of summer sports activities, seeing people more frequently, gathering at church, not having to go inside stores with a mask that annoys me, only being able to walk through one set of doors in Walmart and Target, and more.

In our home life, I want to be more patient with my kids and not so irritable and easily set off.

I realized it’s OK to sit and not be fine. It’s OK to not have answers yet. All of us are in the “in-between” not only in this crazy pandemic but as we wait on Jesus to make everything right again in this sin-drenched world.

We’re all waiting for something.

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