God doesn’t always answer prayers in the way we expect.
The other night, as I drifted in and out of twilight sleep, I heard the faint sound of my oldest daughter sniffling. The sniffling grew into sobbing, and before long, even the occasional scream punctuated the silence. She was having a nightmare.
Still caught in that groggy half-sleep, I debated what to do. I vaguely remembered hearing that you’re not supposed to wake a sleepwalker—did the same rule apply to someone trapped in a bad dream? Another thought crept in: when my daughter is upset, it’s never me she wants—it’s always Mom.
What could I do?
I decided to pray.
In the stillness of the night, I whispered a request to her guardian angel, asking for protection and comfort. Then, I turned to the Blessed Mother, reciting a Hail Mary and entrusting my little girl into her care.
But nothing miraculous happened. My daughter’s cries continued, her distress unrelieved. Did God hear my prayers?
Before I could dwell too long on that question, I heard movement. My wife stirred, got up, and made her way upstairs.
And in that moment, I realized: maybe God had answered. Not in the dramatic way I’d hoped for, but in the quiet, practical way He often does. He sent my wife—just the help my daughter needed.