Puzzle Pieces

I love doing puzzles. Anyone who really knows me knows that once I start one, I will work and focus (and sometimes zone out) until I am done. Since I know this about myself, I often avoid starting puzzles unless I have time to sit and work on it.

When I do a puzzle, I start with the edges (or the foundation). It gives a great starting place and give hints and ideas about where to go from there. Next, I move pieces into similar groupings; similar colors, similar themes, outlines of a main picture. This helps me focus on specific smaller areas and be able to work little by little. I have found that no matter how difficult the picture is, once I have filled it in to a certain point, the pieces almost fill in the rest of the puzzle by itself.

Recently I discovered that I am like this with the rest of my life. Whenever I am learning something new or increasing knowledge in a particular area, I start with a foundation and continue to fill in the pieces or group it with other similar information.

I have also done with the gospel taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. There is so much information that when it is taught, it is usually by small pieces of information. It is our job to combine the information (fill in the puzzle pieces) to create the giant picture of what it looks like. I sometimes also do with my life. What will my life's puzzle look like once I have found and placed all the pieces together into a whole?

Many of these posts are me putting my puzzles together (I may also refer to it as connecting the dots). Gratefully, the puzzle pieces just keep coming and the picture keeps looking better and better. (See 2 Nephi 28:30 in the Book of Mormon: "For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more;")

Finding Service

If you are like me, there are times when you feel like you should serve but you aren't sure how. You may even offer to help with anything but are just as happy when no one takes you up on your offer. I know that I have even prayed to find people to serve and sometimes feel a little frustrated when no one accepts my help or can think of anything they need help with.

Over the past month, I have tried to switch my thinking around. Instead of waiting for someone to realize what they need help with, I started looking for things people may want help with but are perfectly capable of doing on their own. I started asking friends and neighbors if their kids wanted to come play and suggest the parent do some shopping or complete some tasks around home that needed to be worked on. I am positive these parents could have done just fine on their own but I also know what its like to try and complete certain tasks when kids are present.

The next thing I am trying is to focus away from me and my family. I know family is important but there are times when we need to look beyond them. This allows you to see what others are doing and assess how you might help. If you aren't looking, you'll never notice your elderly neighbor struggling to bend over and pick up fruit falling off the trees or the parent at the park who seems overwhelmed and frustrated that the kids won't hurry to the car. You may not notice your spouse continue to work on projects around the house. You need to open your eyes, look past the kids schedules, dismiss electronics at times, and be willing to give your time and you'll start to be amazed at the service opportunities around you.

The last thing, be willing to accept help. Remember, allowing others to serve will help them and help you, even if it is only something you want help with but not necessarily need help with it.

Follow these links for more information about service and a page about doing good.