Ruth’s birthday was a very happy day from beginning to end! She was four years old, and Mother had a birthday party for her—the first real birthday party she had ever had!
Eight little friends, all dressed in their best clothes, and with big smiles on their faces had knocked on her door. Ruth and her Mother invited them in, and my! what fun they all had! They played, "Pin the Tail on the Donkey," "Hide the Thimble," and they had dropped clothes pins into a milk bottle to see who could get the most in.
Then there were presents to open, and before they went home they had ice cream and cocoa, and a big cake with four lighted candles on it! When every one saw the cake they began to sing, "Happy birthday to you!" to Ruth!
"Did you have a nice birthday, Ruth?" Mother asked as Ruth was getting ready for bed that night.
"Oh, yes, Mommy!" Ruth answered. "I want to have another birthday real soon!"
Mother laughed as she said, "You’ll have to wait a little while I’m afraid!"
"But when is Daddy coming home, Mother?" Ruth went on. "I wanted Daddy to be here for my birthday so much!"
"I know you did, dear," Mother answered, "and I know Daddy would like to have been here too, but you know he is a long, long way away, having meetings and preaching to people about the Lord Jesus so that they may be saved."
Just then the telephone rang, and someone asked if he might speak to Ruth! Ruth was a little frightened but she said, "Hello!"
And there was Daddy’s voice talking to her, just as though he were right beside her, instead of hundreds of miles away! Little Ruth was so happy and excited that her voice just wouldn’t work right! It made funny little squeaky sounds when she tried to answer Daddy! Happy tears started rolling down her cheeks, and when Daddy finally said, "Good bye!" Ruth threw her arms around her Mother’s neck and laughed and cried all at once!
As Ruth was tucked into bed she felt happy all over, for Daddy’s phone call had been the nicest present of all, and it had almost made it seem as though Daddy had been there after all!
Boys and girls, there is Someone who wants to be your heavenly Father! "As many as received Him (the Lord Jesus), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12).
And did you know that our heavenly Father loves to talk to us, even more than Ruth’s father wanted to talk to her? Our whole Bible is filled with the wonderful things God has to say to us! Let us not forget to take time each day to read our Bibles, for in that way we will be listening to God’s voice!
"Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart!" (Jer. 15:16).