BACK		Unanswered Prayers

By Stephanie

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

“COME ON SLIGO!!!!!” Kian screamed. “For flip sake Kian! Deafen me next time!”
Kian smiled and hugged the young woman in front of him. “Sorry Steph!” She smiled and shivered. Her husband, Shane, embraced her and kept her tight.
“Alright babe?”
“Yea, thanks hun” Stephanie smiled. Never before had she thought that she could be so content with life, feel so complete and happy. She had loved Shane since she first seen him on TV - Performing Swear It Again back in April 1999. All of her mates were crazy about Westlife. One day they all had an idea that they would go to Sligo for a week, and Dublin for another week. But when in Sligo, they bumped in to Shane at a club. Steph and Shane made eye contact and sparks flew. After that, they exchanged numbers and got to know one another. One thing led to another and now they have 2 beautiful kids and a marriage to last a lifetime.
Shane’s eyes scanned the crowd, wondering where his brother had got to. He went to get drinks a while ago and never returned. While eyeing the faces in the crowd, one got his attention. A tall girl, long brown hair, blue eyes….perfect. He turned around and faced Kian.
“Is that Jo? Joanne Griffin?”
“Where?” Kian stuck his head up and smiled. “Yup, that’s her mate. Gonna go over and say hi?”
“Maybe later”

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

Shane stared at the green grass and smiled as he thought back to when he was 16 and full of puppy love. He was nearly 100% sure that Jo was the one, the one that people search the whole world looking for but never find. Joanne and Shane. It just had a ring to it. Everyone had a soft spot for her; those big blue eyes were very persuasive. He laughed as his mind reminded him of the sort of stuff he’d do, just to get her to be his. He’d sit up in bed every night and pray, asking God, well, more like telling God that he’d never ask for anything again if he could just have this wish. That he’d never swear, never be cheeky to his mom, always wipe the tables in the café when he was told, always do the dishes, never ever fight with Yvonne or Finbarr again. But God never gave in.

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

He thought God was cruel. Cruel to put some one like Jo on this earth and not being able to have her. But now, ever since Steph has stepped into his life, like a falling star, he has thanked God for not granting him that wish. Thanking God for being smart enough to know that she wasn’t the one for him, and giving him someone far more beautiful, far more his type.

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

“Hey, you ok hun?” She asked as Shane smiled. “I love you so much” He said, closing the sentence with a kiss on her forehead. She laughed. “I love you too babe, but what’s wrong? You look like as if you’re lost in your own world.”
“Nah, just seen an old friend from school that I haven’t seen in ages. Wanna go over and say hi?”
“Yea, sure”
They made their way over. As soon as Jo spotted this dark haired man, she knew exactly who it was.
“Well, Well, Well…Shane Filan. How are ya?!”
“Jo! Doing well I see”
He said, referring to the bump beneath her breasts. She smiled and nodded. She wasn’t the same as before. She lost the spark in her eyes, the glow of her smile, and he could tell that he had changed in her eyes too. They tried to talk about the olden days, about their mates and the fun they used to have. But looking back on it now…not much had happened.

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

Herself and Stephanie got on quiet well. Baby talk, he guessed. But when Shane looked from Jo, and then to Steph. He thanked God once again for giving him unanswered prayers.

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 prayers