“The Voice” by Reva Lachica Moore
As usual, I was engrossed in my work when Grace suddenly turned up the volume of the television. My ears quickly caught a familiar voice.
“Is that Dr. Charles Stanley?” I asked without turning around to look at the screen.
“How did you know?” she asked.
“I know his voice.”
Like having unique thumb prints, God gave each of us a unique and distinctive voice. My voice is naturally low pitch; it annoys me when a stranger calls me “Sir” on the phone. But those who know me would recognize my voice right away.
Someone called last night but the number on the Caller ID was unfamiliar.
“Eve, how are you?” said a woman’s voice.
I tried figuring out who the caller was but I couldn’t. When she finally said her name, my mind instantly went back to 43 years ago when I last heard her voice. She was a high school classmate and her voice was exactly how I remembered it.
“Violy Famero! How are you? It’s been a long, long time!”
A baby’s cry and often young children’s voices sound alike. When my sons were young, it was not unusual for me to turn around when I’d hear “Mama!” at a grocery store or anywhere. As the child grows, there soon develops a uniqueness in his or her voice’s tone and quality.
Not only are our voices unique and distinct; we clear our throats quite differently, too. Many years ago during a ‘social night’ in church, we played The Blindfold Game – a game where the husbands line up and one of the wives gets blindfolded, turned around a few times, and then told to find her husband among the row of husbands.
It was my turn to be blindfolded and I mentally marked where my husband Edwin stood. I walked directly to where I thought he was and started touching a face. I did not know that the men had rearranged themselves.
After some time I was left with two men who stood side by side. I started reaching for each man’s hair. The taller guy had stooped down a bit to my husband’s height; it was difficult to tell who was who. After what seemed like a long time, I was about to give up, but suddenly I heard one of the two clear his throat. “I would know that sound anywhere!” I said. Everyone laughed!
Even animals and birds have different sounds and can tell other sounds as well.
My sister Rina had a cockatiel named “Katala.” That bird could tell sounds better than humans. Katala could recognize my brother-in-law Danny’s car even while still a block away from their house. Rina’s house stood by a busy street, yet Katala could recognize that unique sound of Danny’s car. The bird would make so much noise announcing Danny’s arrival.
Even before we were born, we knew our mother’s voice and could distinguish it from other voices. This is one of the key findings of a research project by researchers who are studying infant development. The research suggests that while still in the womb, a baby’s brain is learning speech patterns and laying the basis for speaking.
A child could easily recognize a parent’s voice. Little Andy awoke in the night. His lungs were filling with smoke, and his body shook with fear as a monster of a fire began to surround him. He quickly ran to the window and shouted for help. Hopelessness began to overtake him when no one came. Suddenly, Billy heard a familiar voice say, “Jump! I will catch you!” Without hesitation, Billy jumped out the window where he was caught in his father’s loving arms.
There is this soft, sweet VOICE that I hear when I’m downhearted, helpless, and in total despair. This endearing VOICE would instantly lift me up and peace would overcome me. I’d also hear this VOICE when I’m content and in good spirits; as if the VOICE is also happy for me. When life’s burdens become too much, listen to that soft VOICE. That VOICE is Jesus and He is saying, “Jump to My loving arms. I will catch you!”
I am looking forward to hearing this sweet VOICE someday while looking at the FACE of Jesus. I am picturing Him with open arms saying, “I have been waiting for this day to come! WELCOME HOME!”
John 10:27 says….My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Written in 2010