“Hey, Mama!”

Last fall, my son entered the United States Marine Corps and we officially became a military family. It was so hard to let him go and yet we are so proud.

One of the hardest transitions was the lack of verbal communication. We received three phone calls in a period of four months. The first one really did NOT count. He arrived at basic training, called home and yelled the following script:

I have arrived safely at Parris Island.

Please do not send any food or bulky items.

I will contact you in 7 to 10 days via postcard with my new mailing address.

Thank you for your support.

Goodbye for now.

Click!

I tried to say something back in hopes that he could hear and would know how much I loved him. I hung up sobbing and almost wishing the phone had never rung.

Currently he is in school in California. While the days are full and he stays busy, he has his phone. It doesn’t matter if I call him or he calls me, his first words are “Hey, Mama.” In just two words, I am undone. My heart swells larger than my smile, and there is a joy that lingers long after the call has ended. It is simply the best!

One day after hearing those sweet words, I had a thought. I wonder if that is how God feels when I come to Him in prayer? I have never really pictured or imagined how he received my prayers or how He responded to the sound of my voice. But this thought, on this day had me pondering if His reaction was similar to mine.

Scripture speaks to God’s deep and abiding love for us as demonstrated through the sacrifice of His Son.

1 John 4:9-10 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

If God loves you enough to sacrifice the life of His only Son to save you, it only makes sense that His heart swells larger than His smile when you call His name, and there is a joy that lingers long after you’ve said Amen.

How do you feel when someone you love says your name? Do you believe that God is excited and joyful to hear your voice?