Barbara joined Marian at the huge oak table where Marian methodically turned over jigsaw puzzle pieces. She set her reading glasses on her nose and peered at the picture. “What adorable puppies. This will be a fun puzzle to put together.”

            “I thought they were cute. I hope the fur doesn’t get too monotonous. At least they all have different color bows around their necks. That should make it easier.”

            “True.” Barbara assisted Marian in her quest to place all the pieces right-side-up on the table. “How’s the new Bible study going?”

            Marian shrugged. “OK, I guess. It’s all about prayer. I struggle with it a little.”

            “How so?”

            “God knows everything. I don’t understand the point of prayer if he already knows everything going on in my life.”

            Barbara rubbed her forehead for a moment, deep in thought. “How was your trip this weekend? Didn’t you go visit your daughter?”

            Marian continued flipping pieces while answering. “It was nice. I went to Jimmy’s baseball game and played board games with Tanya. Brian and Susan grilled burgers and we had a lovely cookout. It was nice to spend time with them. They’re always so busy.”
            “You remember what it was like to be that age, running around with the kids.”

            “I suppose. But kids today always have so many activities. Susan wasn’t involved in all that when she was a girl.” She sighed. “I miss being a part of her life. I hadn’t seen her in over a month.”

            “Do you talk often?”

            “Not really. She seems to think if she posts on Facebook she doesn’t need to call. She figures I know everything important that’s going on in her life.”

            “There’s your answer.”
            Marian stopped flipping pieces and focused on her friend. “My answer to what?”

            “You already know what’s going on in Susan’s life, but you want to hear from her anyway.”

            “Well of course. She’s my daughter. I’m happy just to hear her voice. Reading about her life on Facebook isn’t the same at all.”

            “Because you love her and care about her and want to have a relationship with her?”

            “Exactly.”

            “And that, my friend, is why we pray.”

            Marian’s eyes widened and she clapped a hand to her mouth. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “Oh Barbara. You mean to tell me God wants to hear from me as much as I want to hear from Susan?”

            “He does. You’re His precious child. It says in Matthew 6:8 He knows what you need before you ask Him, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask. He wants to hear from you, just like you want to hear from Susan.”
            “I never thought about it that way.”

            Barbara started separating edge pieces from the pile of puzzle pieces. “You know, sometimes I think life is a little bit like a jigsaw puzzle.”
            Marian pushed her chair away from the table. “Now this I’ve got to hear.”

            “If you look at the pieces all mixed up in a jumbled mass, you have no idea what the picture will look like. That’s what our life looks like to us. But God sees the bigger picture. If we trust Him, He’ll help us move in the right direction. As we follow Him, each piece gets put into the puzzle. Finally, at the end of our lives, the whole picture becomes clear.”

            Marian stared at Barbara. “How did you get to be so smart?”
            Barbara waved away the compliment. “It has nothing to do with being smart. I simply try to follow the plan God has laid out for me and trust He’ll lead me to where I’m supposed to go.”

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Dear Lord, sometimes we forget how much You love us and want to have a relationship with us. Please help us remember to communicate with You. In the good times, in the difficult times, but also in the everyday life times. You simply want to be a part of our lives. Thank you for the guidance you give us when we seek You. Please help us follow the plan You have for us so we can see the beautiful picture you have designed for our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.