journaling my thoughts. the puzzle with a missing piece.

 

It is hot outdoors, humid from the rain that has fallen several days in a row.  I find come mid July each year, I long for cooler days.  For windows to be open, for clothes to hang outdoors, for painting.  To walk in the quietness of the morning and not swell and sweat due to the humidity and heat.  To early morning coffee dates on the porch with my husband.  
It has been quite a transition, between leaving the climate of Northern California, my dear sweet California, where I was raised, and coming to the south.  First the east coast of Florida and now, rural southern Mississippi.  I am now as adjusted as I have ever been and have found many charms in being here, to embrace.
With the weather keeping us indoors,  Woody and I spent our weekend working on puzzles.  Talking, joking, laughing, being together.  It was the perfect opportunity to communicate where we have come from, where we currently are, lessons learned, our goals, and what we plan to reach for next.  

You see, not only have we transitioned through climate changes, we have also transitioned through life changes.  Some of those life changes have recently caused me to feel greatly overwhelmed.  

Without a firm grasp on matters, I have felt unguarded, outside of my safe boundaries, unable to comprehend it all, fully.  Wrestling with these emotions unfortunately caused insecurities to invade my heart.  Robbing my spirit while feeding my unstable flesh.  Taking my focus off of the hope and strength that I have in Christ alone.  In essence I was doing just what Paul chastened us not to do ... quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19).

Upon recognizing where I needed to adjust, I shifted my posture to point straight to the Lord, to seek His face, ask for forgiveness by not turning back sooner.  Then (graciously) I began walking in the abundant peace that comes strictly through Him.  (Phillipians 4:8)

  

So what does the puzzle with a missing piece have to do with all of this?  It was after putting the American flag puzzle together, that Woody and I both realized there was a piece missing.  Woody encouraged me to take a picture, after stating, how a blog post will be born from this!  How our lives often feel like a puzzle that is missing a piece.  

That missing piece being the unknown events that we are instructed to walk in by faith and not by sight.

Today, I am embracing that "missing puzzle piece", while celebrating the knowledge of our sweet Heavenly Father who not only knows where that missing piece is, but in fact, with great compassion and care, created the "puzzle" in the first place.