People and Paths

Life is a Puzzle

by Tina

Image by Julie Rose from Pixabay

As an Early Childhood Educator (working with infants and toddlers), I have the privilege of seeing little eyes and ears begin to piece life together. Their first sights and sounds form the early developmental framework of this puzzle we call life. And it truly is a puzzle. The full image of our lives slowly comes into view as we begin to explore what it means to be alive. 

As I recently treated myself to a jigsaw puzzle, I reflected on how the puzzle comes together. Or, at least, how I organise and resolve the mystery and challenge. Perhaps we may come at it from different angles, but still see the full picture in the end. 

Nevertheless, if you’re like me, first, the edges are pieced together. Only a little is understood from this vague image. However, metaphorically speaking, the bits that do present themselves will draw little hearts and minds towards new experiences.

Infants use all of their senses and employ their developing mobility to explore and gain an understanding of their surroundings. Precious tiny hands reach for everything in sight as they quickly assimilate what catches their eye. Frequently, objects are put into their mouths. This too is how they learn. As infants can be eager adventurers, their care providers and teachers must have a very vigilant eye themselves, being fully present in the moment.

Various types of accidents will still happen through the course of a week. This means that bumps and bruises will occur. Sometimes, this is the result of their underdeveloped motor skills. Other times It’s interference by a pushy classmate. It’s all part of learning to navigate our world and use what we’ve been given. 

Just recently, I had my own fall in one of the play gardens as I was trying to capture a learning moment. In this instance, my accident was a temporary lapse in spatial awareness; I became distracted by the unfolding story before me and didn’t realise that I was standing in the sand pit. As I moved to take the picture from a better angle, I walked straight into a stump and went down with a great thump over said stump. I still have a tender bruise on my shin to prove it. 

As we watch over these little souls, we notice that they are drawn to some pieces of the puzzle more than others. The image of their own personal journey begins to form. 

Reflecting on my own journey, sometimes I struggle to see where the pieces will fit. You probably can relate. 🙃 

I’m thankful that even though life can become such a puzzle, we are not alone on the journey. Our little hands aren’t the only hands that take hold of the pieces. In fact, we can trust every piece to greater hands, the Creator of our story. We can also hand them over into His strong and capable hands, one puzzling piece at a time until the puzzle is complete. I pray you do. Please pray I do as well. 

Thank you for reading. God bless. ❤️❤️❤️

—Tina

Releasing Control to God 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” 

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

14 thoughts on “Life is a Puzzle”

    1. Since you posted this 16 days ago, I guess I’m not quite back yet! I’m still working on it. I’ve got 2 posts qued. It’s nice to be welcomed back, Ken. Thank you. 😊💗

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  3. God fits the pieces of our lives together 🙂
    There is an 18 month old baby boy at the Ukrainian church I help on Sunday afternoons. I am jealous of him because he can walk better than I can at the moment due to my knee surgeries lol

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    1. Awe, I’m sorry that you’re knee surgeries we’re causing you difficulties. But so glad we get new bodies in heaven. I hope you’re feeling better and more mobile on your legs now, dad. 💗

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  5. This really made me think, Tina. And I enjoyed a little muse.

    Like you, I tend to start a puzzle with the edge pieces and then roughly sort the remaining pieces into types, or colours, or areas…

    But as I saw the stages of your puzzle coming together, I decided that small infants would not do this, but, being ego-centric, they would start in the middle – with themselves and all those things that are necessary and important to the child – so I suspect the puzzle expands with experience out from the centre…

    In a sense of the puzzle of life, do we ever find the edge pieces?

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    1. Yes, so true about infants a toddler’s being ego-centric. I guess they do start from the center of their world. (Themselves) Which means we all start out this way and it’s with education that we begin to piece the puzzle together a bit differently. (Hopefully). We need good guidance and a solid foundation.

      Your question, “In a sense of the puzzle of life, do we ever find the edge pieces?” has left me pondering. 🤔 We may see the full picture of our lives on earth, from heaven, but the picture will continue to expand into eternity. That’s a long time. So it’s wonderful that the best is still yet to come. 💗 I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend, Dawn. I’ve caught a bug, so I’ll be doing church from bed this morning.

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  6. Hi Tina, I enjoyed your photos, puzzle, and post! It is wonderful that we are never alone; God is with us. We can find rest, comfort, and peace in His strong, loving hands. 💖🌻🌹🌺

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