Puzzled

   Lizzy made sure to arrive to daily mass early.  She loved coming early to spend time alone with the Lord.  She definitely enjoyed celebrating mass with the rest of the community, but there was just something special about praying before Mass and preparing her heart to receive the Lord in the Eucharist.  Sometimes her heart sang praises to the Lord.  Sometimes her heart begged for forgiveness.  Many times she prayed for the needs of others and for herself.  Today, though, her heart was searching ....searching for clarity.  "Lord," she began, "How can I be sure that I am doing Your Will?  When You look at my life, what do You see?"  Mentally Lizzy flashed pieces of past memories she thought may be pleasing to the Lord, but she seemed to be unclear about the future.  "Lord, help me to discover what piece comes next."

  At the end of Mass, Lizzy saw the church secretary flagging her down.  "Oh good, I was hoping to see you today," the secretary confessed.  "This box was delivered about a half hour ago.  It must be yours, it has your name on it."

  "Really?' replied Lizzy.  "That's so odd.  Why would someone leave a package for me here?"

  "I guess you'll have to open it to solve the mystery." chuckled the secretary.

  "I think your right."  Lizzy shook the box a little.  "It sounds like it's has lots of pieces.  I better wait until I get home to open it.  Thank you for finding me."

  Lizzy had errands to run and a few appointments before heading home.  She placed the box in the backseat where it sat until she remembered it later that evening.  When Lizzy opened up the box she found a box of puzzle pieces.  "What is this she thought?  I don't remember ordering a puzzle.  There's not even a picture on the box to reference, and there are a lot of little pieces to this puzzle."    Lizzy was far too busy to just sit and do a puzzle.  She closed the box and place it in her pile of things to donate.  

  Just before retiring to bed, Lizzy began her night time prayers.  She thought of all the ways that she had been blessed by the Lord today and thanked Him.  She reviewed her day and and asked for forgiveness for those moments she wasn't her best.  She again asked the Lord to guide her concerning His Will for the future.  Lizzy was feeling a little lost as if there were pieces missing from the big picture.  She prayed, "Lord help to find the lost pieces to this puzzle.  Help me. Guide me--"  Suddenly Lizzy stopped talking.  She ran to retrieve the box of puzzle pieces she had just tossed aside.  She opened the box and dumped the pieces onto the dining room table. A small piece of paper fell out with it. Lizzy picked up the paper and read, "I have given you all the pieces you need."  

  Lizzy felt overjoyed!  The Lord has answered her prayer.  Of course she had prayers answered in the past, but never in such a concrete way. She knew that solving this puzzle would set her on the right path.  She was sure of it.  She glanced at her watch and noticed the late hour and decided that she would begin to work on things tomorrow.

(to be continued...)

-Susan