Learning To 'Count The Days' - When You Have Dyscalculia

Yahuah has a sense of humor.

I have always had issues with numbers. I'm not sure if my elementary school teachers were aware of it - I would like to think they were, considering it would've been within their scope of practice to notice such things. All I know is that my inability to navigate the world of numbers became painfully obvious to me by the time I was in, what used to be called, junior high.

In those days, a student was often called up to the black board to work out a math problem in front of the class; and I'd done OK in elementary school when it involved basic arithmetic. Even multiplication hadn't been so bad, because the 'times-tables', as we use to call them, could be written down and memorized to the best of your ability. However, somewhere around 5th or 6th grade, we were introduced to long division and the complexities of addition, subtraction and multiplication of fractions. The former required too many mathematical steps for me to retain; and the latter involved a level of mastery I could not achieve. Not only was I expected to comprehend what a fraction was in relation to a whole number, I was tasked with solving equations. I couldn't do it; and Yahuah knows I tried. With all my heart and soul, I tried.

My 5th grade teacher, Mr Dinkins, was a kind and patient man. He was the only teacher who recognized that I was struggling, and I recall he made up a song to help me work through the steps of long division. He stood by my desk one day and sang - in a deep, baritone voice: 'Divide. Multiply. Subtract. Bring Down.' He repeated that mantra as I worked through each mathematical step; and to ensure I would not be teased and embarrassed, he turned the lesson into a fun exercise for the entire class. For days after that, it was not unusual to see a classmate studiously bent over a math quiz, pencil in hand, lips mouthing the words to Mr Dinkins' song as they solved their long division problems; myself included! As for the fractions, I failed miserably; as I could never grasp that one quarter = 1/4; or that 0.25 = 25% of 100.

Algebra I was my undoing. It boggled my mind. Why were letters combined in the same problem as numbers? Who thought to put them there? For what purpose? No one could ever answer that question to my satisfaction; and after barely passing Geometry with a borderline 'C' in 10th Grade (to this day I don't know how I did it), I knew I would never pass Trigonometry, or Pre-Calculus the following year. That self-assessment was a hard pill to swallow, for up to that point, my goal had been to attend medical school and become an obstetrician. A grand idea, considering. Instead, I was forced to face the fact, that due to my inability to do mathematics, I would never pass the MCAT. I became depressed. I wasn't a stupid child. I excelled in English, Science, Art, and Music. Nonetheless, I felt stupid. A few years later, I settled for entering the nursing program at Widener University, although it was not my hearts' desire. Later, after graduating college, I enrolled in an algebra course on two occasions. I found the class work to be stressful as ever, and after a few weeks, I dropped the course both times. It wasn't until three decades later that I finally received a diagnosis that I could associate with what I'd been experiencing for most of my life.

I am neurodivergent. My brain processes information differently than someone who is more 'neurotypical' in their cerebral processing. There are many variations of neurodivergence, e.g., Autism, ADHD, OCD, and the more widely known, Dyslexia. My particular learning disability is known as Dyscalculia. Coined in1974, Dyscalculia affects how the brain processes numerical information, and affects the ability to comprehend even simple mathematical concepts. Although the person may be above average in other areas, usually the creative arts; Dyscalculia is associated with a high risk for depression, anxiety, panic, and agitation; a direct result of the stress brought about by having to navigate spaces predominated by thinkers who neurologically are the exact opposite of you.

Now, you may ask yourself what does any of this have to do with learning to 'Count The Days' of Yahuah's Heavenly Calendar? You see I firmly believe my Dyscalculia has a part to play in His biblical count being restored to the world. Everything about Counting The days has to do with numbers; and it's pretty obvious if you have eyes to see.

For example:

• Counting: I had to learn the simultaneous Weekly and Monthly Counts towards His Shabbats and Feast Days. When counting the correct days for the Feast of Shavu'ot, I had to learn to read and comprehend the numerical instructions given in scripture. I had to follow them explicitly over the course of 3 months to arrive at the correct day He commanded for the Feast. I then verified my calculation by counting backwards to the Wave Sheaf offering. I utilized multiplication; for the commandment is for 7 Shabbathot, or 7x7 Sabbaths.

• Procedural Skills: I followed a multi-step procedure by adding another 50 days of the Omer count, to conclude the Feast of Shavu'ot occurs in the 5th Hebrew Month, on the 1st day of the Weekly (Day 1 - 7) Count; the 2nd Day of the Monthly

  (Day 1-29/30)Count.

• In order to do any of this I had to establish Place value by making sure the Weekly and Monthly counts began and ended on the correct days. That there were 6 Days /week for the Preparation; and that they occurred 4 times in a 29-30 day month. That there were 7Days/week for the Shabbat; and that they occurred 4 times in a 29-30 Day month.

• Being able to determine the rising of the Full Moon in Jerusalem, counting backwards according to my time zone to determine the arrival of the Full moon over Philadelphia, Pa, USA., on the exact date, at the exact time according to the lunar phase chart.

Not bad for someone who can't read a map, has no sense of direction, cannot judge distance; and still can't tell you what time the train will enter the Wichita Station.

And yet I see this. I see the algorithm and mathematics of Yahuah's Heavenly Calendar. I've learned the rhythm of His Time Clock and know how to Count His Days perfectly. Yahuah did not require me to know Algebra, Trigonometry, or the square root of anything. He asked me to observe His Heavenly Calendar, Learn how to Count The Days, and to teach others to do so. I am fulfilling the mission given to me. Could there be others? I'm sure there are! With other more detailed, computational methods? It's quite possible there are. However, that is not what has been given to me. Yahuah gave me this. A simple way for me to be yachad with Him; for in His Wisdom he knew this is what I would understand. And if I understand it, I can demonstrate it; And If I can demonstrate it, I can certainly teach it.

Indeed, Yahuah has a great sense of humor.

NeorahYah Germaine

November 14, 2025