Seventeen

Seventeen

I was thinking this morning..... about Seventeen. I am not 17 years old neither is any of my children. Why then am I thinking of 17? Do you know that 17 is the number you're most likely to pick if you're asked to choose one number at random? Don't ask me how I know. It is proven. Just like 17 is the average of the first two perfect numbers, it could also make up a perfect couple. Yesterday makes it exactly 17 years since my young wife walked the about 17m aisle at St Andrews Anglican Cathedral in Warri to meet me standing before the altar from whence commenced our Blessed for Bliss marriage. We give God praise!

As I reflected on the significance of 17 years yesterday, with a heart full of thanks, I smiled when I found out that you need to use 17 muscles to make a smile. Hmm!!! In my deep thought, I didn't realize I was staring at the wallpaper on one side of the bedroom but seeing nothing. It all made sense when it occurred to me that there are 17 different ways a wallpaper pattern can repeat itself. Humorous God.

During these 17 years, 'my young wife' had been pregnant three times giving birth to our three lovely children. I was awestruck with gratitude to God when I realized that at 17 weeks of pregnancy, if you were to hold your baby, she would fit snugly in the palm of your hand. Wow! What an amazing God. It is easy to take for granted how great a grace you enjoy to be there when your child is born. I gave God praise when I found out a wild goose will accept as it parent whatever creature it sees within its first 17 hours of life. Great God!

Wow! Seventeen. I started laughing when I discovered that Malala Yousafzai became the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Prize at 17. Brazilian football legend Pele played in his first World Cup when he was 17. While I can't recall how many times I laughed yesterday, I found out that the average person laughs 17 times each day. I further gave thanks because unlike the French who have to dial 17 to call the police, I only needed Jeremiah 17:17 to call my God. Seventeen!

With 17 years gone, I did not suffer from heptadecaphobia (the fear of the number 17) like many, because when Jesus asked in Luke 17:17 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?' I showed up and screamed 'Thank you Jesus for 17 years of marital bliss.'

Happy Sunday.

......Just the thoughts of a certain Wey Mey.