Everything I Needed to Know about Life I Learned from a Jigsaw Puzzle

1. When things aren't going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return (Mark 6:31).

2. Be sure to look at the big picture (John 4:35). Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration.

3. Don't force a fit (Philippians 2:4).

4. Perserverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit, piece by piece (Exodus 23:29).

5. When on spot stops working, move to another (Ecclesiastes 11:6). But be sure to come back later (see #4).

6. The Creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook (2 Peter 1:3).

7. Variety is the spice of life. It's the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting (Acts 10:34-35).

8. Working together with friends and family makes any task fun (Nehemiah 3:1-32).

9. Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order (Proverbs 22:6).

10. Don't be afraid to try different combinations (Luke 5:4). Some matches are surprising.

11. Take time often to celebrate your successes--even little ones (Philippians 4:4).

12. Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can't be rushed (Galatians 6:9).

--As printed in MercEmail, Steve Higginbotham, Editor