A week ago in sacrament meeting, a young father in the row ahead of us
took a crying baby out into the foyer. Some minutes later, his son, perhaps two
or maybe three years old, noticed his father was gone and started calling out,
“Daddy! Daddy!”
The thought came to me that as grown-ups we have occasion
to call out to our Heavenly Father, “Daddy! Abba! Father!” He is pleased when
we do so, particularly if we do it more regularly than just in moments of
exigency or crisis. Just as senior couples serving missions love to hear
regularly from their children and grandchildren, our Heavenly Father delights
to hear from His children. He is all about us. Everything He does is for our
benefit. He likes when we call home.
As we get caught up in the thick of thin things, dealing
with the everyday busyness of life, it is well to remember that life here on
earth is temporary. It is not our real home. We are simply away at school,
hopefully having the experiences and learning the lessons that will fit us for
the life that comes after this one. Our chances for making it successfully
through this mortal classroom increase as we keep in touch with home.
A verse from one of my favorite hymns focuses on what the
tenor of our prayers should be:
O’errule mine acts to serve thy
ends.
Change frowning foes to smiling
friends.
Chasten my soul till I shall be
In perfect harmony with thee.
Make me more worthy of thy love,
And fit me for
the life above. [1]
And a verse from another favorite hymn suggests a
foretaste of what our welcome will be if we have kept in touch through our
mortal sojourn:
Oh, what songs we’ll employ!
Oh, what welcome we’ll hear!
While our transports of love are
complete,
As the heart swells with joy
In embraces most dear
When our heavenly parents we
meet!
As the heart swells with joy,
Oh, the songs we’ll employ,
When our
heavenly parents we meet! [2]
So, call home. “Daddy! Abba! Father!”
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