Count it all joy! Jigsaw puzzle

Oh my goodness, in my absence, it appears my blog has disappeared. Well, anything inspired by the Holy Spirit shall live forever in the spirit!

Was going to post a prayer devotion from my stephens ministry blog.

Everything I need to know about life I learned from a jigsaw puzzle:

In trying to help a care receiver deal with the sometimes complicated and confusing puzzle his or her life has become, it may help to keep in mind these simple yet profound guidelines for putting jumbled situations back together again.

1. Don't force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally.
2. When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return.
3. Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.
4. Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle goes together bit by bit, piece by piece.
5. When one spot stops working, move to another. But be sure to come back to the first spot later (see #4).
6. The Creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook. Refer to the Creator's guidebook often.
7. Variety is the spice of life. It's the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting.
8. Working together with friends and family makes any task fun.
9. Establish a border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order.
10. Don't be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising.
11. Take time often to celebrate your successes--even little ones.
12. Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle won't be rushed.
13. When you finally reach the last piece, don't be sad. Rejoice in the masterpiece you've made and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Copyright 2001 by Jacquie Sewell. Permission is granted to send this on to others, but not for commercial purposes.