Unanswered Prayers

by Tinkatia

Unanswered Prayers, Sung by Garth Brooks

As I was returning tonight from my granddaughter's baseball game, I was listening to Garth Brooks on the car radio. He was singing "Unanswered Prayers".

I took notice of the words, "Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers." My mind wondered back to the spring of 1969. I was happily expecting my third child. The last two would be just 12 months apart, which was a common occurrence back then in "Good" Catholic families. I think they were referred to as "Irish Twins". We had a little boy and a little girl so we didn't care what the gender might be. We just wanted a healthy baby. We had names picked out for both. The nursery was ready and so was I.

On June 1st 1969 little Catherine Dawn entered the world more than two months early. She was scarcely two pounds but oh so tiny and sweet. She was rushed into an incubator. I knew there would be problems but during the previous few years the medical field had made such progress in saving these tiny babies. She was fighting to live and I prayed like I have never prayed before. Right through the day and on into the night I never stopped praying. "Please God let this be one of the success stories". All the doctors fought hard but as the sun was slowly rising little Catherine Dawn went back to Heaven. I was devastated. There were other tiny babies in the incubators and they were going to live. Why not my baby? She was so wanted. I went home empty handed and doubting my faith.

Many years later I learned that nearly all the tiny very premature babies that had been saved in the sixties had serious physical and mental problems. Almost all were blind or almost blind from the oxygen that had been pumped into the incubators. Some had cerebral palsy and most had learning disabilities when they reached school age. I think God hand picks mothers of children with special needs because they are very special themselves. I wonder if I would have been strong enough mentally and physically to meet these challenges? Would my child have needed painful surgeries or treatments? Would she have had to endure ridicule from other children because she was different? Being so sensitive myself, would I have been able to endure watching her being taunted and teased. How would it have affected my other children? Would I have had the time to spend with them? The bedtime stories, the homework, the gymnastic and other sports events, the concerts and all the other activities we do with our children; would they have been curtailed? Even now would I be going to all of my grandchildren's baseball games and dance recitals? Would I be growing my own Christmas trees? I think God answered my prayers that day. He said, "No".

Have you ever had anything that you prayed so hard for or wished so long for and never acquired it? Did you ever receive the gift of unanswered prayers?