The Perfect Way of Unanswered Prayers

“Did you ever wish you had a girl?”I froze, ornament in hand suspended midway to the tree. My middle son peered at me, his eyes seeking an answer. His question drew the attention of my youngest, and they both stared at me with unblinking eyes.Was this one of those questions that could impact them for the rest of their lives? I could picture them lying on a couch addressing a future psychologist, “The reason I can’t hold a job or have a family is that my mother really wanted a girl.”I am a girl, and it’s natural to want what’s familiar to you, but thankfully, we don’t always get what we want.I hung the ornament on a limb and turned to face them with an honest answer. “At one point, yes. I thought having a girl like myself might be fun, but God had a better plan. God knew what I wanted before I realized it myself. He knew that as soon as I met you, you would be the ones I wanted, and so I’m very thankful that God went with His plan and not mine.”Later that same night, as we were setting the table, my youngest poured the milk and asked me, “Did you have a boyfriend before Dad?”I set a plate down and wondered what was it about today that had them asking all these questions. “Yes, I dated some boys in school.”His eyes grew big and solemn. “Did dad know?” He whispered the words as if I’d been cheating.Holy moly, I needed to be very clear. “No, no, no. I hadn’t met your dad yet.”“Did you break up with them?” he asked.“Well, some I did, but some broke up with me.”“If you didn’t want to break up, did you want to marry them?”Dinner could have been burning on the stove, but I wouldn’t have cared. It was one of those rare, amazing moments when you hold your child’s complete attention. I inhaled a deep breath. “At the time, I had wanted things to work out, but I’m very, very, grateful that God didn’t answer those prayers. He knew there was a better man for me—your dad.” I smiled. “God’s ways are higher than our ways. If I had married one of those men, then I wouldn’t have had you.”I searched my son’s eyes for an indication that my elderly wisdom might have registered.“How did the other boyfriends break up with you?” He smiled a mischevious grin. ​Maybe it would sink in later.All those questions reminded me to be grateful that God hadn’t answered my prayers. Back then, I had wondered where God was, why he hadn’t responded. I mourned the loss of what my mind had conceived, but God was patient with me and forgiving. All the while he was maneuvering the pieces of his puzzle into place to form a bigger picture. Looking back, I see his fingerprints everywhere. And, if I had one prayer now, it would be that my own children wouldn’t try to force the pieces of the puzzle together. That they would trust in God’s plan and relinquish their own. Psalm 18:30 says it best, “As for God, His way is perfect.” “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your waysand my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9