Sunday, January 31, 2010

Do YOU Like Jigsaw Puzzles?

I don't. I hate them. (Remember the whole "passion" post?) Yah. I hate them with a passion. I do NOT understand how people can do like 1000 piece puzzles and stay sane. Honestly. I do not have the patience for them. (See previous post!) : ) I can barely do the 100 piece ones that I do with Jacob. (Why, yes, he is only 3, and yes, he IS a genuis!) Anyway, back to the point. Jigsaw puzzles, hatred of them, and impatience regarding them.

A wonderful college friend, Mary had this quote on her blog this morning: (You really need to hear her story!!)

"When we face struggles, we often wonder, "Why?" Years from now, though, we may realize that it was those struggles that taught us something we could not have otherwise learned - that there was purpose in our pain. God's purpose is greater than your pain, and He has a greater purpose than your problems."
Max Lucado Daily: Everyday Blessings

Whoo! Halellujah for that!!!

I was once again struck by the jigsaw analogy...which is, in my humble opinion, the only thing they are good for! Oh, that or you can glue the really, really pretty ones together and frame them. I digress...

I think that sometimes we get so overwhelmed (I know I do!) with it all we forget that we only see an itty, bitty part of the BIG picture. We are but one piece in the entire jigsaw puzzle of millions of pieces....only God sees the finished product, and how they all fit together!

This can be awfully hard to fathom. So many times I have been so encased in my own pain and suffering that I can't even imagine how anyone could benefit from it, let alone me...how ANYTHING good could come of suffering. Then I really stop and think about it. How I handle what happens to me is a reflection of God in me.
Do you see what I mean? If I am going through a tough time, and I complain and whine and shake my fist at God (Not that I haven't done that, because, BELIEVE me I have!!), what does that say about MY GOD? On the other hand, if I can muster up the courage to praise Him?

In the New Testament, Paul praised God when he was in chains, literally standing in running, raw sewage up to his knees. He is a better man than I! Standing in poop. Chained up. Praising God. Whoa. Oh, to be that committed, that in love, that dedicated, that full of belief and peace in God! Truly my heart's desire.

I see SUCH a pathetically small picture of my life. If I could rise above, and just see how it fits into all the other pieces, and how THEY fit into others'. But I guess that's why we have to have faith, and trust that God knows what He's doing.

Do you? Do you trust that God has YOUR best interests at heart? He does, ya know. I may not know why, but if I know ANYTHING, I know that the Bible is God's Word, and His Word is infallible and perfect. It is complete. And it tells us that He works ALL THINGS together for GOOD for those who love Him. He never said it would be easy, but He said He would work it all out. Rest in that today!!

10 comments:

Beverly said...

LOL...I love puzzles...always have

Lia at Petite Little Bee said...

Hello, I very much like your blog. It is very touching and special. I too am not a fan of puzzles, but I know some people just love them. Thanks for sharing and I will be back soon. Cheers, Lia

Unknown said...

Stopping by from SITS! It is interesting to see how the pieces fit together.

Shelle said...

Wow, great post. Makes me remember that although things might noy go exactly according to OUR plans things ARE going according to God's plan for us! Thanks for the reminder!

Stopping by from SITS, Happy Sunday!

Joanna said...

Yet again - well said. :)

Holyoke Home said...

Thanks for stopping by this morning and leaving some comment love! Sometimes I can get to the point where I trust the devine, but it can be very difficult some times. Thanks for the inspiration!

Pchanner said...

Love the post. Makes you stop and reflect. I hope I have the wisdom and heart to rise above myself one day and see the puzzle below me. Thanks so much.

Visting from SITS

DUSTINE said...

Wow...amazing post...great analogy! Thanks for your insight...God's using you in a wonderful and marvelous and mysterious way!

I know about MG b/c my dad was wrongly diagnosed with it once upon a time. He had Guillan Barre Syndrome. Before we had the real diagnosis we researched MG to the hilt. A couple of months after his diagnosis the mother of my sister-in-law had MG for real.

Love your blog. I hope to get on here more often and write more too.

God bless...Dustine

Kerri said...

Thanks, ladies!
Dustine, Guillian Barre is SCARY! Did he have any permanent damage? Is he better now?

Just a sidenote, yesterday Jacob said he wanted to do a puzzle...so I got a 100 piece puzzle that he had done before with Grandma. After about 5 minutes, he didn't want to do it anymore. I can't leave anything like that unfinished...(OCD) so I finished the bloomin' thing. All the while I'm thinking, I HATE PUZZLES!!

DUSTINE said...

Hi again...
My dad had GB Syndrome in 2002 and was in the hospital for most of that year. He did recover for the most part with a few minor things that didn't come back...some memory issues, etc. He passed away in September this past year.

I don't care for puzzles all that much but I like for the kids to do them for brain power...so I suffer through them...not huge ones either! Now I'll be looking at them in a whole new light...like that!!

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