The knock at the side door startled Hannah. Who could that be? She got up from her chair and clicked off her radio. She had been listening to some of her favorite old Gospel music. Walking to the door she flipped on a wall switch to illuminate the hallway. She pulled aside the short, flowered curtain that covered the door’s window and looked out. It was her son, Joe.

She opened the door and saw behind him his old GMC pickup truck parked in the drive, the engine still running. “Good evenin’, Joe. Didn’t feel like walkin’?”

Joe looked at her with a smile. Ordinarily he would have walked the quarter mile to the house where he’d grown up. “Didn’t have the time, Mother. You’ve got a phone call.”

“Me? Who’s callin’?” she asked, curious about the smile on her son’s face.

“Oh, I think I’ll let him tell you. C’mon, I’ll drive you over.”

Hannah grabbed a shawl that she kept hanging beside the door and walked out, closing the door behind her.

“Not nice keepin’ secrets from your mother, Joseph,” she said as her son opened the passenger door for her.

He whispered, “I think you’ll get over it.”

A minute later they were at Joe and Sally’s home. As she and Joe walked through the door, she smelled a late dinner that was being prepared. Beef stew, she guessed.

Joe took the lead through the living room and into the kitchen where the nearest phone was. Yep, beef stew, she confirmed, looking at the stove.

“Hi, Mom,” came a voice from the family room. Hannah looked over and saw Sally walking into the kitchen.

“Oh, hi, Honey. How’re you doin’? Stew smells good.”

“Thank you,” said Sally as she reached for the uncradled phone on the kitchen counter. “Got someone waitin’ to talk with you.” She held the phone out to her mother-in-law.

Hannah reached for the phone. “So I’m told.” She put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”

“Hello, Mamaw,” said a cheery voice on the other end.

“Brent? Is that you?”

“Yes, Mamaw, it’s me. How are you?”

Hannah paused for a moment. In a flash, all of the months of prayer for this boy came back to her. The Spirit’s perpetual calls to intercession had come to an end over a month back. She hadn’t heard anything at all from the boy or his family since then. Questions flooded her mind as she refocused to answer his question.

“Oh, I’m real good, Sweetheart. Doin’ real good. How are you doin’?” she asked, her heart beginning to beat faster in anticipation.

“Mamaw, I’m calling because I’ve got something to tell you. And I think it’s going to make you pretty happy.” Brent paused for a moment and Hannah knew he was doing it on purpose.

“Well, come on, boy,” Hannah said, knowing that he was playing with her. “Say it.” She knew. She knew!

“Mamaw, about a month ago I became a Christian. Your type of Christian. I’m born again!” Brent sounded excited to be sharing his news.

“Oh, Brent! Oh, how I have been praying for you!” she said, unable to contain her joy. “I am so excited for you!” Tears started to form.

She could hear emotion began to rise up in Brent as he said, “Of all the people in my life, I knew you’d be the one who’d be the happiest for me.”

“Oh, I am, dear. I am.” Hannah wanted to press for details, but she knew that those would come if he should decide to release them. “I am so happy for you, Brent. So, happy!”

“God is so good, Mamaw. I can’t begin to tell you the things that he has done … that he is doing, for me,” came his response.

The mother in Hannah that had lain dormant for so long spontaneously awakened. “Brent, are you readin’ your Bible? Are you talkin’ with God every day?”

She heard Brent chuckle. “Yes, ma’am. I’ve been reading every day, and I’ve been praying constantly. I’d like to find a church, but since I don’t drive yet, and since mom and dad…” He trailed off.

“I know, dear,” Hannah empathized. “I know. You pray for your family. They’ll come around. You stay in the Word, and you keep praying for them every day, as I have for you. Pray, pray, pray.”

“I will, Mamaw.” Hannah heard a voice in the background say something that she couldn’t quite make out, then she heard Brent sigh. “I wish I could talk longer, but Mom also wants to talk with you.”

“Okay, Brent. I want you to know that I love you so much. And I will pray for you and your new walk with the Lord. Brent, thank you so much for calling me.”

“I love you, too. And thank you for your prayers. Well, have a good night. Hopefully I’ll talk with you again soon,” Brent replied. And with that, her daughter, Sharon, got on the phone.

She spoke with her daughter for about a half an hour. She tried to express her excitement over Brent’s new-found Love, but it was short-lived as her daughter changed the subject and asked about the goings on with family and friends.

After the conversation had ended, she hung up the phone and told Joe and Sally what Brent had said. They, also, happily received the news.

After their brief conversation, Joe asked if she was ready for him to drive her back home. She declined his offer. She explained that she wanted to walk and talk with the Lord. She was going to carry this new joy with her as she trekked down the pathway between their two properties.

She said her goodbyes and began walking. It was cool, and she pulled her shawl more tightly around her shoulders. If the warmth she felt inside could have radiated outward, she wouldn’t have needed her shawl at all. “Lord, thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you.” A Scripture verse filled her heart and mind, and she nearly shouted it to the sky. “‘My soul doth magnify the Lord!’”

SEVEN DAYS LATER Brent received a package in the mail from his Mamaw. It was an authentic, black leather-bound Bible.