Any mother with a child away from home knows the longing to receive a letter, a call, even a card.

Once when out of the country, I called home to check on Mother and Daddy. After talking with Daddy for a few minutes, he said, “Here—your mother wants to say something.” Because Mother’s speech had been affected by a stroke, I wondered how she would do. She came on the line, her voice weak, her spirit indomitable. “I just wanted to hear your voice,” she said.

I know how it is with me when the children are away. Just the sound of their voices warms and comforts me.

I wonder if God does not long at times just to hear our voices. In prayer we are coming to almighty God, the Creator of the universe, the King of kings and Lord of lords. But He is also our Father. He longs to hear from us—not only when we are asking for things, but also to tell Him we love Him and to talk over the happenings of the day, just to fellowship with our Father, who loves us.

Taken by permission from “Growing in Prayer,” by Ruth Bell Graham, Decision magazine, August 1973, ©1973 The Ruth Graham Literary Trust.