Perhaps Mary and Joseph wondered what Jesus’ first words would be. One might expect the Hebrew words equivalent to “mama” and “dada.” Either word would have made his parents proud. The word for “father” (abba) would have deep meaning, since it would reflect divine sonship—although that would take maturity, a lot or growing for Jesus “in size and strength, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God” (Luke 2:40). It still takes much growing in grace and wisdom for us to call God Abba and to believe in our own sonship and reality as children of God and heirs. Yes, we are! “God has sent forth into our hearts the spirit of his Son which cries out ‘Abba!’ (‘Father!’) You are no longer a slave but a son! And the fact that you are a son makes you an heir, by God’s design” (Gal. 2:6-7). As children of God we can pray—or babble—“Abba! Father!” throughout our day.