With all that’s going on in the world today, it’s not surprising that people are thinking of traditions to create fun and cheap ways to pass their time – AWAY from the televisions and public stores! Lately, my daughter and I have embarked on the journey of a 550-piece puzzle. Why not? – I asked myself when she originally asked if I would purchase it. It’s a great way to spend time together, challenge both of our brains, improves short term memory and, practices problem solving AND it’s cheap! I thought back to the days when my grandmother and her sisters LOVED doing puzzles. HUGE puzzles! It was cool to go into the living room…to the large card table and find that single piece that everyone had been searching for! A small victory and a great memory for sure!
My daughter and I have had a good time challenging ourselves…sometimes thinking we had the piece – only to be disappointed. Other times we have been very close, but it wasn’t quite the plush fit we’d hoped for. Then, there were other times, we would randomly have a small (or large) unexpected treat when a piece we didn’t expect to fit…. would fit perfectly! It allowed us to see a little more of the “big picture” of this long-awaited image.
As I went to the Lord in prayer about what I should blog about, I initially was leaning towards another topic…when at the last minute, God laid the puzzle of life topic on my heart…so here it is. If you don’t realize it already…. life can be a puzzle AND it can be puzzling 😊 You can be going right along… thinking a situation is one way – only to find out it’s NOTHING BUT! You can also believe you “fit in” only to realize YOU’RE the different one (shock, gasp) …that “stands out”. I have often been deflated to not included or invited to go to certain events, trips, dinners, etc. hang out with some cool peeps…. but God has shown me time and again that He didn’t make me to do that. He’s taught me that I MUST BE OKAY with NOT being in the “in crowd”. It’s more important to be in HIS will and where HE wants me to be!
Another nugget that God plopped in my spirit is the fact that you DON’T HAVE TO RUSH to finish a puzzle…it can be paced. You can find a couple pieces before you leave your home for the day or spend an hour before bed working towards completion. Likewise, life can be paced. Take more time to ENJOY memories that God blesses you with OR making memories you can reminisce on later down the road.
As I studied God’s Word, I Peter 2:9 gave me peace beyond understanding….” But ye are a chosen generation, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show for the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”. “Peculiar people,” is also translated as “a people for God’s own possession” in the NASB or “a people belonging to God” in the NIV. This made me more comfortable (and downright happy) in the skin I’m in….the skin and temperament that God created just the way HE wanted. God makes no mistakes. As believers, we should remember that we can’t do or say what everyone else does or says…. nor should we want to. We should want to be a representative of Christ and to represent Him well!
And just like a puzzle, we should know that God IS the BEST artist! He has painted the canvas of my life as well as the canvas of your lives. He is strategic and causes certain relationships to form and other relationships to “not fit”. Family isn’t always blood. It’s the people in your life who want you in theirs. The ones who accept you for who you are. Your authentic self. The ones who would do anything to see you smile, and who will love you no matter what. I believe there will be colorful seasons that make us overjoyed, and other seasons that will be dark and lonely…. but all in all, the canvas of our lives will be a beautiful one if we belong to Him. The Bible describes God’s children in beautiful and encouraging ways. We are beautiful because we are fearfully and wonderfully made by our wonderful Creator! For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10.
I will leave you with this…be encouraged in knowing that with so many unknowns in the world in this day and age…. we should be comforted knowing that it ALL works together (the good, bad, and the ugly) for believers. We may not know what’s going to happen day to day, but we DO know who is STILL on the Throne and who STILL controls the puzzle of life.
I’ve included a picture of the picture – it’s a work in progress and we are enjoying the journey 😊
