The puzzle of relationship

Expectations matter

You saw the picture and thought, “I’d like to have that.” So you purchased it and transported it home and now it’s time for the big reveal. You open the box and look inside. The picture is in a thousand little interlocking pieces. You’ve purchased a jigsaw puzzle! Think about that for a moment. If you thought you were buying a poster or a painting that would be a pretty shocking development. But if you knew you were buying a puzzle, the expectation would be completely different. The point of a puzzle is the process of assembling it … solving the puzzle. Relationships are like that. They are not paintings, they are puzzles. The task is to put them together piece by piece. To enjoy a jigsaw puzzle, you must have the mentality of a solver. And for me the best jigsaw experiences are with others. Some of my best holiday memories involve a table with pieces all over it and a group of friends or family all working together, piece by piece, cheering or groaning as it comes together.

What if we took on the mentality of a puzzle solver in our relationships? Each obstacle, argument, victory or connection represents a piece in the picture of our lives. We aren’t disappointed because the picture isn’t perfect or complete because we know the purpose is the process, not the outcome. What if you knew your marriage is a great big puzzle that will take a lifetime to solve? Would that change how you feel about today?