Counting

One-Two-Three-Four-Five.
The little boy counted as he waited for his mother in line.
The line was long and he was trying to keep busy since waiting is hard work.
As each person came nearer to the customer service desk, he began to count again.

One-Two-Three-Four-Five; There’s still five, he exclaimed delightedly.
I knew that this accurate little counter would continue until his mother was finished.
I was thoroughly enjoying his excitement.
Every time someone finished and left the counter, a new person got in line.

The precious little counter began again.
There’s still five!
It never ceased to be five, it seems.
I actually looked behind me and he was right; there was five, consistently five.

He was holding a well-loved bear with a small blanket attached.
His Velveteen Rabbit type friend, with its edges loved off, has undoubtedly heard him.
I am sure this little one spends his days counting.
It is obviously a skill that he is diligently working on.

His mother looked around to see if there was annoyance in the faces being counted.
There was indifference.
There was one smile.
Mine.

I could have listened to this little boy all day.
His persistence; never tiring, never wavering in his diligence to count.
His delight to discover that there was order to this waiting line.
His application of a new skill that seemed to work even here.

We all count.

Being the mother of five children, I spent my life counting.
I continuously counted heads if we were out together.
I came in with my five children; I needed to leave with my five children.
I counted fingers and toes and eyes and ears.

I counted Cheerios on the highchair tray.
I counted M & M’s in a cup.
I counted dots on dominoes.
I counted Matchbox cars in a line.

I counted minutes.
I counted hours.
I counted days.
I counted years.

In all my counting as a mother, I unfortunately cannot say it is STILL any number.
Time, moments, and childhood move on.
The counting continues, the children grow, and the time passes.
Soon, they will begin counting with their little counters.

The counting continues.
Praise God that it does.

The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift your eyes from where you are and look north and south, east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever. I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. (Genesis 13:14-17)

The precious little counter would have loved that challenge.
Count the dust of the earth.
I am sure he would have tried.
In reality, only God could do that counting.

Only God knows the number of the dust of the earth.
Only God knows the number of hairs on our head.

God was promising Abram, who would soon become Abraham, many offspring.
Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness.
Without that stalwart faith, God’s promise would have seemed like a cruel joke.
Abraham and his wife Sarah were beyond childbearing years and had no children.

Only God can create gnats out of the dust of the ground to show Pharaoh who is God.
Only God can promise offspring that would number the dust of the earth.
Only faith could believe this to be true.
Only that kind of faith could be counted as righteousness.

By faith Abraham, even though he was past age – and Sarah herself was barren – was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. (Hebrews 11:11.12)

Countless.
That is actually a lovely thought.

Countless blessings from His hand.
Countless times we have been forgiven when we come to Him in repentance.
Countless acts of love and mercy.
Countless prayers answered.

After this I looked and thee before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” (Revelation 7:9-12)

Countless days with God in heaven.
Eternity when all counting is finished.
Eternity when our joy with Him will be endless.

 

2 responses to “Counting”

1. I can always count on God and on you!

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   • Thank you, Al, for your constant encouragement.
     God gets all the glory.
     Gina

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