Answered Prayers

One of my dearest friends had some incredible news delivered today. An answer to a prayer that she has been offering for years. One that I and many others have been on our knees for, as well. It's the second blessing she's received in the last few months. Both of these answered prayers are changing the course of her future. Righting wrongs and giving fresh life to her.

Because they are so profound, because we've prayed for her and with her for so long, because we all believed that one day He'd do this, I couldn't help but shed tears of joy. And relief. And I sang songs of praise. At the top of my lungs.

It's the most affirming feeling in the world to know your will matches that of the Lord's. Nothing compares. That's the true sweet spot.

Naturally, I got to thinking about the answered prayers I've had in my life. My husband. My boys. My dad. All my men have come straight from Jesus. I'm not worthy. But I am grateful. And humbled.

There's an old saying that goes something along the lines of, "You can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family". Well, I beg to differ. I got to do just that. 17 years ago.

Having lost my biological father at the age of 4, I grew up without a dad of my own. I don't think I really missed having one though. Until my mother met Gene Langford. And I met my dad.

We just fit. From the beginning. And one night, driving home from dinner, from the backseat, I blurted out the question. Would he be my dad. And there was a deafening silence. And I started to shrink with humiliation into the leather seat, wishing it would swallow me whole. And then a sob caught in his throat and I realized he wasn't mortified, he was crying. The ugly cry. And I laughed.

So inappropriate, I know. But I was nervous. Give me a break.

I don't ever remember praying for a father. But I think God knew my heart and answered that unspoken prayer. He always knows better, doesn't He? Even when we don't have a clue.

It'll be a month tomorrow since Daddy passed. Feels like yesterday. And like a lifetime ago. How is that possible? For something to feel so immediate, yet so distant.

If you have the answer, email me. Seriously.

The Langford clan is gathering tomorrow at the farm for the Thanksgiving weekend. More importantly we'll be fulfilling Daddy's final wish. He will forever be here. At his favorite place on Earth.

And it struck me how appropriate it is for us to say our final goodbyes during a period of thanksgiving. Because I am so incredibly thankful for him.

And for answered prayers. Even those we never even knew to ask for.