Eight is the best number. Why is this, you might ask? Well, let’s take a look around and apply the principle.
~ Eight cookies on your plate. You’ll eat your fill and probably have enough left for later; maybe even share one or two.
~ Eight dollars in your pocket? You can find a decent lunch in just about any town on earth. Even New York City has a Chick-fil-a now.
~ An eight hour shift at most jobs is manageable; any more and you may start fantasizing about harming someone (unless you work at Chick-fil-a, those people are crazy nice.)
~ Eight tacos? Heaven. Shrimp, blackened halibut, carne asada…where was I again?
~ Lose eight pounds and you’re fist pumping the bathroom scale.
Are you feeling me with this? Have I made the case? Let’s drill down some more:
~ Eight-year-olds are perfect. They can do the dishes, watch the toddler, and they still listen to you.
~ Eight outfits in the closet and you won’t have to do laundry this week.
~ Eight gallons of gas is enough to make it to the next paycheck.
~ Eight years and you’re guaranteed a new president.
~ If you and your spouse are blessed with an extended trip away – no kids, no interruptions – eight, er, times will most certainly do.
~ Eight Christmas presents under the tree?
And on, and on…
I didn’t always appreciate the power of eight. I know people still talk about seven. Personally, I think prime numbers are overrated. They tend to cause problems in my house. What to do when you’ve got seven kids but only five donuts left…See?
I once heard a sermon about how seven is the biblical number of completion. I’ll grant that. A few years ago He gave us baby number seven. Surprise! God knows what He’s doing, but He also seems to know – much better than we do – that for us, eight is just a lot better.
