21/366 Puzzled No More

One week ago I wrote, comparing jigsaw puzzles and life.

This is where I was in the process then.

Slowly, 

piece by piece, section by section 

I have made progress.

When I filled in that upper left corner I celebrated! 

At least half of the picture didn't have holes.

  I WOULD conquer this beast. 

And I walked away for a bit.

I needed a rest.

I am more convinced than ever that jigsaw puzzles and life are a lot alike.

The puzzle is a puzzle, regardless of how many pieces are connected

or scattered.

Sometimes it's hard to tell just how a piece/section of pieces will fit.
Appreciating the big picture, before it is complete, is next to impossible.
Until the last piece is placed, it feels like something is missing.

At 2:37 this morning, I placed the last piece.

Puzzle 0

Donnette (and family) 2,000

I felt a lot of things:
Satisfaction.
A little disappointed it was done.
Relief.
Excitement.
Wonder.
Accomplished.
Victory.

Amazement-not that I had completed it, but that with a house full of people, including littles who wanted to help, all of the pieces were there. Not one was lost. That is almost miracle status.



I don't know what your life looks like: 

• whether it is in little pieces like this puzzle was right out of the box, and you feel like it is nothing but a jumble of confused, scattered bits and you are trying to sort things out, bring some kind of order to the "mess", wanting to establish a boundary (border)
• or if you have a semblance of order, a plan in motion and you are working, little by little making connections, seeing progress, 
• if you are in the beginning, middle or nearing the end

but I am convinced of this:

one day, 

all the connections will be made

the ones that make sense 

and the ones that you think "there is no way" 

or "the manufacturer is playing a joke on me, this piece has to be from a different puzzle"

and the final piece will not be in place until life here is done

so take heart,

hang in there

be patient

don't give up

keep working at it

rejoice when things match up easily

take a mental break when you need to

change positions to get a different perspective

be thankful when "key pieces" come together

take comfort in the fact that even though the pieces aren't all together yet,

it is still a whole puzzle