Sunday, November 4, 2007

Life By The Numbers

I’ve had a thing for exactness for most of my life. It developed before I was even two years old. My mom caught me lining up Q-tips end-to-end in the crevice of the border around our coffee table. With that stunning feat under my belt, it was not surprising that I did well in math classes and math competitions in school. Nor was it a stretch when I majored in accounting while in college. But processing life by the numbers at my age . . . it’s a bit odd.

Take for instance the fact that I know how many times the cross-walk signs blink “Don’t Walk.” Or that I often count people at events. Or that last week when Bar Exam results came out, I went straight to the statistics page (after checking the names of the few people I know who took it).

With this weird counting trait, I began to feel a little like Rain Man (or make that Rain Woman). I questioned whether I needed some sort of help. After all, most of my friends do not have near the affinity for numbers that I do.

Then, it hit me: If I am made in God’s image, and He knows the very number of hairs on my head at all times (Matt. 10:30 & Luke 12:7), then maybe, just maybe, I’m okay. Maybe only God and I get a kick out of counting. But, I’m okay with that.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can hardly make fun of you when you do something like throw Scripture about counting in at the end!

Anonymous said...

Hey -- you're good with numbers AND words. :) No fair.

Kris said...

Your memory and number skills have always amazed me! I just wish I had half your ability! It is a gift.

Alyssa said...

SP - Pretty ingenious, don't you think? :)

BJ - If I recall correctly, I think you received an A in your last math class! Anyway, I love grammar because of the rules (kinda like math), but I definitely do not have your gift of stringing words together in a creative, humorous way.

K - Thanks! I am grateful for such a gift. I just wish it wouldn't scare people!

Krista Sanders said...

Been wanting to read for a while... finally got a chance. I agree with bj- no fair. Love your own take on this little tale.
Thanks for YOUR sweet comments.

Alyssa said...

Krista - Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm not nearly the story-teller that you are. I love reading about what is going on in your family and what God is teaching you through your children.