My feisty little toddler, Mackenzie, who daily teaches me about myself…
With both hands clenched in fists, pumping the air overhead, my littlest shouted, “I did it!” We had been working a 35 piece Mickey Mouse puzzle together. She took great pride whenever another piece fit into place. At the age of two, my toddler, by my estimation, is plain smart. No two ways about it.
But she’s not that brilliant.
She really tried to work the puzzle, but without much success until I handed her the pieces and helped fill the holes. At times she would demand, “Give me that piece!” or “Put a piece here!” Some times I could fulfill her wishes. But other times, the pieces she wanted me to use didn’t fit properly. As we finished with the final piece she hugged my neck tightly and said, “We did it mommy!”
Her words are a little reminiscent of my own.
Often I have demanding moments. I stare at my life and try to make the pieces fit where there are gaps. I exert great effort trying desperately to fill holes with the wrong pieces. Prayers are offered, sometimes in the imperative : “Fill this. Find that piece. Make this fit here.” All the while my Heavenly Father sits beside me, knowing how my puzzle is supposed to look. He has each part in His hands, and knows exactly how they should work together.
I’ll admit to you here and now that I am terrible at finding peace, amid my unfinished puzzle. But I have some incredible examples these days, friends and loved ones who are doing much better than I am.
There is a young woman who I admire so much, recently divorced – deserted by her husband. She has kept her joy in the middle of all the waiting, expecting Him to fit the pieces together.
A dear aunt and uncle – both recently surviving cancer, daily seem to be able to choose HIS peace in the middle of the battle, without understanding it all.
My own mom, walking through back pain, daily choosing to move forward in His strength even though she has spent more than thirty years fulfilling her life’s calling as a nurse. In my mind it seems unfair, but she doesn’t seem to see it that way.
Each of them have good reason to pitch a fit. All of them could jump up and down and shout at Him to make sense of it all or try to force His hand by manipulating the situation. Instead they give testimony to the goodness of God, blessing Him on their journey. Somehow, in their trial, they find Him as their missing piece and He fits into any spot that needs to be filled.
Oh to fill in the gaps with Him. That’s what I long to do.
from Isaiah 26: 3&4
3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
4 Trust in the LORD forever,
For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.
Thank you Heavenly Father for holding all of the pieces to my puzzle. Let me abide in the peace that You are, knowing that Your ways are perfect and I can trust You. Keep my mind stayed on you. amen
daily portion 