“Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers. Remember when your talkin’ to the man upstairs. That just because he doesn’t answer, doesn’t mean he don’t care. Some of Gods greatest gifts are unanswered prayers”. So go the words to one of my all time favorite Garth Brooks songs. Little did I know that the song would play out later in life, much like Garth had penned it years before.
The family and I made our annual trip to a local farm for the choosing of pumpkins and other activities. About halfway through the trip, in the middle of a very crowded farm, I caught the glance of a familiar face. While it took a few moments to put it all together, I soon realized I was staring directly at my old high school flame (17 years..where has the time gone?). I am not 100% sure she knew it was me. What makes this so amazing is that we were several hours away from our hometown, on a farm in the middle of nowhere USA.
We quickly loaded up the hay wagons and headed off for the pumpkin patch. As we bumped along the dirt road of that farm, I found myself looking at my beautiful wife and 3 children and thanking God for unanswered prayers. In that moment, I was reminded that although we might beg and plead for what seems so important to us, God knows our best interest and doesn’t always provide what we are asking for. To take it one step further, I noticed that she was accompanied by the very person she started to date when our relationship ended. Again, I was reminded that God has all of our best interests in mind and sees “the big picture” much greater than we can know or understand.
At the end of his song, Garth sings “and as she walked away, I looked at my wife and then and there I thanked the good Lord for the gifts in my life”. While it doesn’t take a moment like Saturday for me to be reminded of, or thank God for the gifts in my life, I felt like He provided me with a sense of closure. He gave me a glimpse of how lucky I am and how well it worked out for everyone involved. Futher more, He was showing me that the gifts in my life are proof of prayers that WERE answered. Even on a farm in the middle of nowhere USA.
