I've Got Your Number

It seems you can't go too far into your day without numbers being involved. Most people see numbers on a clock before ever getting out of bed. You may tap numbers on the microwave to heat up breakfast or adjust the thermostat to a new temperature. Hopefully you look at the speedometer on your way to work, and you probably saw road signs with numbers as you drove. From the channels on our TV to the station on the radio, numbers appear when we aren't even looking for them.

What about the numbers in your head? I'm sure there are certain numbers you have memorized that are of some significance to you. I can give you the time, date, and weight of each of my girls' births. I can rattle off my childhood address and telephone number. (Although, don't ask me phone numbers now! I don't have to dial them so I don't have them down!) Some people can even tell you their high school locker combination 30 years later.

Many numbers are etched in our memory because we used them so much. This is why teachers have their students memorize math facts. PIN numbers and passcodes are best memorized. I've made certain recipes so much I can recite the ingredient amounts. I've had to give my social security number, as well as Maddy's, so many times I don't have to think about it.

Sometimes we remember numbers in the short term. If you are going to a new place you might remember the interstate or highway numbers you need to take. Witnesses may recall a license plate number. Maybe you need to remember a flight number or your hotel room. Those may stay with us for a little while, but are forgotten once the need is gone.

Then there are the numbers that we remember because they hold some significance. If you won a $435 million powerball lottery, you would probably remember the winning numbers. Birthdates, anniversaries, and addresses are important to know. There are historical dates that most people have memorized, such as 9/11, April 19, 1995, December 7, 1941, and many others.

Recently, I've added some numbers to my memory. These numbers didn't mean much to me until they became an integral part of my life. First, 8-10-18 is now added to my most remembered dates. It will forever divide my life into "before" and "after".

The numbers 28 and 54 have taken on new meaning for me. Every anniversary we marked how many years we'd been married, most of the time remarking how it didn't seem that long. We will forever stay at 28. I think about this every time a friend makes a social media post stating how many years they have been married. I get a little sad knowing I will never make it another year. Maddy had a birthday two months before the accident. He will always be 54. I always made fun of him because no matter what, I would always be younger. I guess that won't be the case in a few years.

There are other numbers that are special to me. I am always searching for scripture to guide me through this life of mine. Jeremiah 29:11 is my life verse. Psalm 23 is a comfort. John 14:27 was the verse I read the night Maddy died. There are many more that I add to my list.

We cannot live our lives apart from numbers. Luckily, some numbers can help us when other numbers cause us sadness. I hope you have the number of a friend you can call when it feels like you can't keep going. Reach out to someone. There are many people who care. I'm always available!