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Listen while you read: "Onward Christian Soldiers"1
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I love doing jigsaw puzzles, so I was delighted to discover the puzzle table when I moved into our retirement community. This table, located in a central area of our building, is open to anyone who wants to help work on the puzzle. There are around a dozen of us who stop by from time to time to fit in a few pieces.
I've discovered that everyone has their own preferred method and style of working on a jigsaw puzzle — and they each think that theirs is the best way, of course! When I'm working on a puzzle by myself, I like to add an extra challenge by first separating out all of the border pieces, setting them aside, and then adding the border after I've completed the rest of the puzzle. None of my other puzzler friends here would stand for that sort of nonsense, however, so I have to cede many of my rights and preferences for completing a puzzle. Some like to sort pieces by colour, shape, or design, and must be frustrated when others mess up their organizing system. Some like to sit down for an hour or two, monopolizing the time and space. The worst problem, however, is when someone innocently inserts a piece — which seems to fit — in the wrong place, leaving the error for someone else to discover and correct.
Because we tend to work on our community puzzle individually, we don't really know who else is working on it. We have no laws or governing procedures for working on our puzzles, but there are a lot of unspoken understandings. Someone mysteriously gets to choose and spread out the new puzzle, but we should all be willing to turn the pieces right side up and be sure that none have dropped on the floor. No one can give up in disgust and put the puzzle away before it is completed. Caching the last piece so as to be the one to finish the puzzle is not allowed!
Working a puzzle in this way is similar to ways that we work together in Christian community. We each have talents, skills, and preferences that differ from everyone else's, and we must learn how to use them cooperatively for everyone's benefit. My way is not necessarily the only one or the best, and we all need to practice tolerance and extend grace to others. We need to recognize and allow for individual styles and strengths, focusing on working together harmoniously despite our differences in opinion and preference.
Philippians 2:3-4 – Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (NLT)
Prayer: Dear Father in heaven, may we show grace and tolerance in our everyday dealings with others, especially those in Your family with whom we need to work in harmony and unity. Amen.
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About the author:
Gail Lundquist <gail10833@gmail.com>
Beaverton, Oregon, USA
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Thanks for the good reminder, Gail.
Thanks Gail, very good devotional. Blessings.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging and instructive with us today. To God be the glory! Blessings.
… on minimizing conflict and working cooperatively to achieve common aims … I think that your Devotional ought to be forwarded to myself!
Merci Gail.
Good morning,
A word to thank you for today’s devotional.
Every blessing to you.
(ON)
Good morning, Gail!
Thank you for today’s message. It was perfect, especially the chosen scripture and your prayer.
Blessings!
Thank you, Gail. I’m always amazed when I walk by puzzle tables and see people intently working on them when it just looks like a jumbled mess to me! Definitely a picture of how we each have different gifts and talents to use for Christ.
Great analogy. I’m going to save one of your sentences for myself …
“ we each have talents, skills, and preferences that differ from everyone else’s, AND WE MUST LEARN HOW TO USE THEM COOPERATIVELY FOR EVERYONE’S BENEFIT.” That is a memorable paraphrase of God’s ways. I love it!! Thank you.
Good morning, Gail,
I was fascinated to read how many different ways people approach puzzles and have never heard before what you do about adding the border at the end. It is so true the parallels you make with a Christian community. Thanks for sharing and broadening my perspective. Blessings.
Lots of important words to pay attention to in your devotional today, Gail. I too love to do jigsaw puzzles and as I often visit a Senior’s residence here, I am tempted to join in on a puzzle they are doing.
Comments I hear from some of those doing the puzzle it is evident that each have their opinion of the behaviour of others. Those words you quoted from Phil. verse 2 are important to read and heed! Blessings for your special writings.
Gail, this is an excellent example of working together to solve a problem. I remember a funny group event where two large tables were each given a puzzle. However, unbeknownst to us was the fact that the puzzle pieces had been mixed together from the neighboring table’s puzzle. Because the puzzles were of a very similar theme of a farm and barnyard, it was confusing. Eventually, we became aware that the other table members were having the same problem as we were, and finally communication crossed over till someone carried a piece to the other group, and both groups then began working together till both puzzles were completed. Cooperation and communication.
Greetings
I’ve been doing puzzles since I was little. Like your community room, my granny always had a card table with a puzzle on the go.
Being thankful when my mom called dibs on the sky!
I too have run into different people having different “modus operandi”. In her family you could not start unless the entire edge was complete. Whereas in my family you started with the edges but the real thrill of finding that last missing edge piece brought joy to all. Accomplishment.
Community building?
Thank you for sharing there might even be a children’s story/sermon??? In my future.
Good Morning Gail!
I related to your message for today – I related to your love for Jesus Christ and your interest in puzzles. I appreciate how the Holy Spirit led you to use Phil 2:3-4 as confirmation for your article.
I’m 81 and my interest started working jigsaw puzzles just a few years ago. I did the 300 piece for a while, then 500, and now mostly the 1000 piece. I’ve a dedicated table in the small game room, so there’s no rush to finish it. When working on a puzzle, I find my mind often reflecting on God and how He loves us, has done so much for us, how amazing our bodies, our minds, everything reflect His Glory. Then I find a piece that fits, and I’m drawn back to the completion of the puzzle.
I’ve mounted and framed about 5, but most I recycle. I put the border in a separate plastic bag with the other pieces. The recipient has a choice to either do the border first or last, or perhaps dump the border in all the other pieces!
Thanks again for sharing your love of our Lord through your writing.
(TX)
Thank you.
It’s so true.
Respect and tolerate differences.
My mother loves to do puzzles, but I usually find one piece on the floor when I visit. Sometimes the cleaner must scoop it up because it’s nowhere to be found when the puzzle is otherwise complete. Another lesson, we must enjoy what we have accomplished even though it’s not perfect.
Good morning, Gail
Thank you for your devotional about the puzzles. I was the president of a complex of seniors’ apartments and geared to income housing for many years. Some of the residents in the seniors building also did a puzzle, kind of the same way as you described. One time when one was almost done a couple of visiting grandchildren tore it all apart and threw the pieces all over the floor.
Kind of like our faith life, we toil and do everything we can to bring the gospel, each one of us in our own way, and outside influences quite often discourage us and possible destroy our efforts.
Blessings, I always enjoy your devotionals.
Me too. I love puzzles. I’ve used them many times in children’s stories! Life is certainly a puzzle. And God holds some of the pieces we don’t see but things end up fitting together. Amazes me! Blessings!