"Somewhere, out there..."

"...someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight..." (An American Tale)

When I was a young girl, one of the youth leaders at my church shared that when she was growing up, she would always include a special prayer for her future husband in her daily prayers.  These weren't typical teenage prayers that he'd be a rich, young actor or anything like that.  Instead, she prayed daily for his safety and well-being. The idea really struck a chord with me...

Somewhere, out in the world was the young man who would become my husband.  Somewhere, he was navigating growing up, just as I was.  He was encountering the same hardships, struggles, heartbreaks, and pain that make up adolescence. Someday, we would have each other to brave the trials of life together but, until then, my future husband would struggle without me by his side.  It just didn't seem right.  If we were going to one day become each other's strongest advocates and biggest cheerleaders--why not start now?

Nielegirl @ 15

So, at the age of 12, I began praying daily for my future husband.  I asked Heavenly Father to keep him safe, to protect him from danger, and to help him make good decisions. Most importantly, I asked that whenever he was feeling low or ready to give up that the Lord would help him to feel of my love (the love we would one day share) and that it would help him endure. I may not have been his wife then, but someday I knew we would share a love more powerful than I could imagine.  That was the love I wanted him to feel, that was the love I knew would protect him until we could face our challenges together.  More than a decade of prayers would transpire before the young man of my prayers and I would finally meet.

Teeks @ 15

Teeks didn't have the easiest time as a teenager.  Midway through high school he and his sister moved in with some of their family in Utah.  Transitioning to a new family, new school, and new state proved quite difficult and they both struggled to find their place.  During this time of confusion he had many opportunities to rebel and act out, but he never did.  No matter how alone he felt or  what the obstacle may have been, Teeks always made the choice to push forward and do the right thing.

One day, months after we'd been married, I told Teeks all about the thousands of prayers I said in his behalf and how grateful I was that the Lord had answered them.  Teeks wrapped his arms around me and whispered in my ear,

"You know, my teenage years were some of the darkest moments of my life, but even when I was in the depths of loneliness there was always a little feeling or voice inside of me that motivated me to keep going.  Now I know that voice was you. Thank you for loving me so much."

Teeks & NieleGirl V-Day 2014

PRAYER IS a REAL AND POWERFUL resource
our Heavenly Father, in His great wisdom and love, has blessed us with.  We may not see the effects of our prayers immediately, but I know that
THE LORD LISTENS TO & ANSWERS
EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.