What happens when you wish for something to go back the way it was? You wish it with all your might, even though you know it can never be.

And then, the strangest thing happens…your wish comes true.

But it’s not as great as you thought it would be. Not that it’s bad, but it’s just not…well, it’s just not the same.

Have you ever felt that way?

Let’s lighten things up today. I’ve gotten this same forward several times, asking me to play a round of Scattergories using the first letter of my first name. I don’t do forwards, but I do blog. So, I’ll go first. Then it’s your turn. Ready…go!

Katie is one of my best friends in the whole world. We met at church in the young marrieds Sunday school class about 5 years ago. She and her husband were assigned to our small group – lucky them.

Really, it was lucky us, because we got the chance to know this fun couple and be part of their lives.

We learned why they said they were from Kansas City, but had mysterious Southern accents. We learned that they’d been married as long as we had, even though Katie was – gasp! – the same age as my little brother. (And I thought I’d gotten married young!) We learned that they had hearts for outreach and ministry and their friends and each other. We learned that they each had a great sense of humor, even on the night we all ate the worst ribs ever…thanks to some mad grilling skillz. And we learned that they struggle with some of the same issues we do – dysfunctional families, imperfect marriage, struggling finances, the works.

Most importantly, we learned that this couple is what true church family means to us. They are friends of the heart. And we love them.

They moved halfway across the country two years ago, but thanks to the wonders of this Internet, we’ve stayed in touch, e-mailing everything from casual updates and funny stories to raging vents and heartfelt prayer requests.

On Sunday, I received the worst prayer request yet. Katie’s husband has been diagnosed with cancer.

“What? You want us to pose? You think we should hug?”
Our husbands have bonded through a love of beer and sarcasm…can you tell?

My dear friend is believing God through this situation – He is stronger than any cancer! But she’s understandably concerned about many things, from finding care for her three kids (ages 1, 3 and 4) while they’re in Houston to see a specialist to the unexpected expense of all this.

For the last year, Katie has been blessed by being able to contribute to her family’s finances by selling Mary Kay. Today, she’s like many of us and reluctant to ask for help. But she has asked me to help her with this one thing. She’s asked me to share with all my friends an offer of FREE SHIPPING on any Mary Kay product ordered from her website between now and this Friday, January 23.

I don’t actually use Mary Kay products but found a hands pampering set that I bought for my mom (nothing like having Mother’s Day covered in January!). So if you think you might be able to use anything Mary Kay and you can buy it this week, please visit my friend’s site.

Bearing one another’s burdens works for me. For more posts on what’s working today, visit Rocks in My Dryer.

As I watched the inauguration this morning, I realized I was thinking less than charitable thoughts about pretty much everyone involved.

I imagined Bush heading home this afternoon to take Excedrin and a nap, perhaps chuckling at the burden Obama has taken on or possibly still bristling at the comments about much-needed change.

I rolled my eyes at the hype surrounding our new president, even saying to my co-worker that when expectations are so astronomically high, disappointment may not be inevitable, but it is likely.

Then I heard our President say this: “Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions – who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.” (CBS News)

Right then I realized: my cynicism was not showing a lack of faith in Barack Obama. No, it was showing a lack of faith in God, the One really in charge of it all. And it was showing a lack of faith in and loyalty to the country we call home.

So today I determined that I will have hope. Hope in our country, hope in our leaders and most importantly, hope in the God who rules all nations. Today I have hope.

(And today – in the headline – I made yet another Freaks & Geeks reference. I’m sorry. I’ll try to stop. It’s just hard, man, really hard.)