No Need to Feel So Puzzled

A few weeks before Christmas, in my motherly insanity wisdom, we did a jigsaw puzzle as a form of a family activity.  I already expressed my love hate relationship of puzzles.  Does anyone like puzzles. (forgive my lack of question marks - it appears that key is non functional - kids)  So anyway, we completed that fun Santa puzzle and shortly thereafter, for some insane reason, started another 550 piece one.

Last night we (and I use the term WE very loosely, as in WE shot a bear) finished this puzzle. My family totally bailed on this one with the exception of the last twenty or so pieces.  It's as if we are the Little Red Hen of puzzledom.  No one wants to plant the seeds or grind the wheat or kneed the dough, but everyone wants a slice of nice warm bread.

Everyone felt the need to place the last piece and then admire their work.  Actually, my boy who placed it should have had the honor due him since HE found the missing piece under the couch.  How did that happen.
I chose this particular puzzle for two reasons.  One, it had nothing to do with Christmas and we were ready to move on, and two, this sweet little girl reminded me of my sweet little girl, back when she was a little girl - she's still sweet.

I did receive a compliment from Mike last night.  He admired my stick-to-it-iveness as he sat on the couch watching Rockford Files. I am not so sure it is a determination as much as an innate stubbornness.  Once I start something, especially something challenging, I don't want it to get the best of me and I do - within my power -  what I said I would do. I hate to give up.  It's a good thing I have that stubborn streak.  I have my children because of it.  I refused to accept defeat and continued on the infertility road for thirteen years. I do know when enough is enough, but I seriously felt God would indeed give me "the desires of my heart" and waited on His timing.  I had fervently prayed for years to have that desire removed, with no results.  After the birth of our children, I knew our family was complete.  I just knew.  That longing was gone.  I loved seeing babies and being around babies, but no longer had the tug from within.  Had that desire dissapated prior, I would not have been so determined.  I just wish I understood His timing.  It would make things so much easier through those years of heartbreak.

Once there was a little girl, about three or four years old.  She enjoyed going to church with her family and had been in church since in utero, starting with cradle roll and since.  Almost every experience in her home church was in Sunday School or Children's Church. She had little exposure to BIG church, but she had learned in her limited childish way, to love Jesus with her whole heart.
One day her mother had a very important committee meeting at church.  Those all important committees.  Mike says if the Ark had gone to committee Noah and his family would have drowned.  The girl's mother soon realized she had not planned for a sitter and there was no class or group or nursery to occupy her little darling.  She resigned herself to bringing her. After all, she was a good little girl and would be no problem.   Armed with a tote bag of picture books and crayons and paper and a dolly, she decided to sit her down on the back row of the church and make a quick appearance at her important committee meeting.  Attempting to put the fear of God in her, she gave specific instructions. "I have to go to my meeting.  You sit right here, be very quiet, and wait for me.  Do not misbehave or do anything bad.  I will be back very soon!".

The little girl sat obediently and occupied herself with her bag of goodies. After a few minutes though, she got bored. She soon started looking around wide eyed at the sights, never having been in Big Church.  There was a group of men down front.  Cocking her head to one side, she listened intently to what they were saying, but she couldn't understand.  Happily, she finally realized they were praying.

She stood up and in a clear loud voice, said "Dear Jesus, ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP, QRSTUV, WXYZ, thank you Jesus!".  And she sat back down.  Right away, a man from down front marched to where she sat and said in a loud booming voice, "Young lady, how dare you say the alphabet to God!".

She looked up at him quite innocently batting those big blue eyes. "Well I wanted to talk to my Jesus, but I didn't know what to say.  So I gave Jesus all the letters and I'm going to let Jesus put it all together!"

The man had no reply. He quietly walked away.  For the new year, it might be a good thought to let the master puzzle builder have the pieces and let Him put it all together.