“Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers” - Garth Brooks
I wish I had an old diary and could go back and reflect on all my past prayers/wishes/dreams. How many of them went unanswered? Probably 90%. And how many am I grateful went unanswered? Almost all of them.
Let’s face it, we ask for stupid sh*t most of the time. Well, I do at least. Beyond the health and happiness of my family and loved ones, I’ve asked for so many things I didn’t need, didn’t understand or ones where I didn’t truly grasp the consequences or possible outcomes.
How many boyfriends did I pray would be the one, or worse, pray I could change? How many jobs did I pine for and get rejected from? How many material goods did I wish for thinking it would lead to greater happiness?
And now, I’m so grateful those prayers went unanswered.
I shudder at the thought of some of those boyfriends now. I Googled them… I know how they turned out and it ain’t pretty. The relationships, the careers, the significant milestones that never occurred. All of it helped me get to where I am today. And I wouldn’t change a thing!
The Greatest Unanswered Prayer of All
I’m 17 weeks pregnant, and last week we got the results back from our first trimester screening. Our baby is healthy! They also revealed the baby’s gender. We are having a boy!
I will admit I was cautiously hoping to have a girl. I thought it would round out our family, and I loved the idea of a daughter. It sounds so nuclear. Husband and wife, son and daughter. Like a sitcom come to life. So when I first heard the news I was a little overwhelmed. Instantly, I realized a girl was not in the cards for me.
It took a few minutes for the news to sink in. There’s something very strange about receiving a phone call where the future of your family is revealed. But once I had a little time to digest what I just heard, I realized this is yet another gift of unanswered prayers.
I thought I wanted a daughter, but what I really want is this baby. And he’s a boy. I thought I wanted the generic nuclear family, but what I really want is a healthy family who loves each other unconditionally and jumps over mountains and runs through fire for each other. I’m a mom to a family of boys. This is my new reality, and I couldn’t be happier.
There is a little man, name to be decided, growing in my belly. A little miracle. I haven’t met him yet but he’s already introduced himself with some kicks and turns. He will be another love of my life, another family member, another blessing. I love him already.
Thank you, God, for my unanswered prayers.
“Unanswered Prayers” - Garth Brooks
Just the other night at a hometown football game
My wife and I ran into my old high school flame
And as I introduced them the past came back to me
And I couldn’t help but think of the way things used to be
She was the one that I’d wanted for all times
And each night I’d spend prayin’ that God would make her mine
And if he’d only grant me this wish I wished back then
I’d never ask for anything again
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn’t answer doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers
She wasn’t quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me
In her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn’t much we could recall
I guess the Lord knows what he’s doin’ after all
And as she walked away and I looked at my wife
And then and there I thanked the good Lord
For the gifts in my life
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you’re talkin’ to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer doesn’t mean he don’t care
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered
Some of God’s greatest gifts are all too often unanswered…
Some of God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers
Beautifully said!