Life is a Puzzle

I don’t know that I would call this my very best childhood memory, but today’s clock quote got me thinking about life growing up. Puzzles were always a part of it.

As a kid, I remember going to my grandparents’ farmhouse, and it seemed there was always a puzzle spread out on a table waiting to be worked on. My most vivid memory isn’t necessarily the puzzle itself, but the tradition that came with it. Without fail, it always seemed like the last piece was missing. Then my grandpa would appear with a grin of delight, produce the missing piece, and gently tap it into place so everyone knew the puzzle was finally complete.

As the years passed, my mom became the family puzzle enthusiast. In her “semi-retirement” era, I’ve enjoyed finding puzzles that are meaningful, unique, or just different enough that she hasn’t already completed them. Even better is knowing she can share them with others—a sister, a close friend, or anyone willing to spend a quiet afternoon around the table.

Not long ago, I sat down to work on a puzzle with her and started separating the edge pieces from the rest. In a joking tone, I told her, “I’ve never had the opportunity to put together the border.” She immediately offered me her spot. I had to laugh.

“Mom, I wouldn’t have the first clue how to do that. I’ve never been the border person.”

And it’s true. In my entire life of puzzle-building, I’ve somehow never been responsible for the border.

While I don’t usually do puzzles on my own—mostly because my animals would make short work of the whole thing—there is something incredibly calm and comforting about sitting around a table together, slowly assembling a beautiful picture one piece at a time, seldom saying a word.

One of my favorite discoveries in recent years has been advent-style puzzles. As Christmas approaches, I love sending one to my mom. Some feature a series of small daily puzzles built around a theme, while others reveal sections of a larger puzzle as the days pass. Finding the perfect puzzle has become part of the fun. In fact, I already have a few picked out for upcoming occasions.

As I reflect on some of my favorite childhood memories, I realize they aren’t necessarily tied to big events or grand adventures. They’re the quiet moments—the calm of sitting together, working on a puzzle, playing games, or simply enjoying each other’s company.

Those moments of closeness are what stay with me. Like a puzzle, life is made up of many small pieces. And often, it’s the simple pieces that create the most meaningful picture.