Pieces of the Puzzle

This past week has been – well for loss of a better word -- yucky.  It's much nicer having my son near me - but it's hard not being the one that controls things.  Right now I am not in control of when and where he goes to school, the doctor, church or anything else - not easy for a mom.  Saturday will be the first time since he has come to Florida that he will be allowed on a pass -- I can't wait!

If I have learned anything through this whole process is that none of us really have control - oh we try hard to grab for control, sometimes fool ourselves into thinking that we have it, but when it’s all said and done - outside factors can take control of any given situation at any given moment - control over our lives is just an illusion.  Thankfully, I do know the One who is truly in control.

I was reminded of that this week by my 7 year old.  It seems they were discussing in church that sometimes things are hard - but God knows the end result.  I was told she shared with her class that God is an artist who paints the picture of our lives.  Any good picture has both shadow and light -- it makes the picture pretty.  We get our picture like a puzzle - God only hands us on piece at a time - some of the pieces are shadow pieces - but they help make the picture pretty -- you just have to remember - it's only "one piece" of the puzzle - God has the rest of the pieces.

Wow -- I am amazed - I told my children that analogy over a 2 years ago -- and she obviously took it to heart.  I told them this because I wanted to help them through a difficult time when God just didn't make sense. 

When I lived in Japan my husband was diagnosed with malignant brain cancer - it was an incredibly hard time in my life.  A very dear friend of mine gave me a puzzle piece and said "Amy this part of your life is like this puzzle piece - by itself it doesn't make much sense - but God has the rest of the pieces - trust Him."  I can't tell you how many nights I held onto that puzzle piece - it's imprint sometimes on my hand.  My friend gave me a good piece of wisdom and something tangible to give me hope - it worked so well that I have since shared it with others and now my children - the "puzzle piece" continues to make since out of a hard situations and brings peace.

So this is what I want to tell you today -- whatever it is that you are going through - remember "it's only one piece of the puzzle - by itself it doesn't make much since, but God has the rest of the pieces - trust Him."

Dancing piece by piece,

Amy