Our boys loved LEGOS® when they were growing up, as evidenced by the forty plus sets that subsequently took up residence in our basement. Unfortunately, the pieces to all these sets were residing together in one big box. Our creative children were not limited by instructions, and loved to mix, match and create one-of-a-kind masterpieces. While this is great for the imagination, it’s not so great for anyone wanting to build just one set according to the instructions. Sorting LEGOS® would have probably remained in the category, “I really should get to that one of these days” if we didn’t have a little LEGO® lover stay with us for a couple months this winter. The LEGOS® and all their paraphernalia were transported from the basement to the upstairs bedroom where more creativity ensued.
I was in the process of returning the LEGOS® to the basement when it occurred to me that this was the perfect opportunity to put them back in order. If I didn’t do it now, they’d be relegated back to the dark confines of the basement, perhaps not seen for another decade. What an overwhelming task! I hardly knew where to start.
Have you ever felt that way in regards to your life? I know I have. There are times when it feels like my life has fallen apart and I have no idea where to start when it comes to picking up the pieces. As I’ve been working to bring order to those LEGOS®, I realized it’s similar to the process for bringing order back into a life.
STEP ONE: Start. This may seem obvious, but it’s true. We’ll never get anywhere if we don’t get started somewhere. It’s not always important where you start. What is important is when you start; and the sooner, the better.
NEXT: Identify the pieces. What do you have to work with, sort out or address? For my LEGO® project, that meant starting the painstaking process of sorting the pieces by color, then later by style. I learned, though, “If you sort them, they will come.” I still have LEGO® lovers in my home; they’re just much bigger now. While the “boys” had no interest in the sorting process, they were unable to resist the colorful piles of blocks and the stack of instruction booklets. I didn’t even have to ask for help, they just came and started building. THEN: Follow the instructions. The “boys” have reached the point where they no longer insist on doing things their own way, but will actually follow a plan. We need to reach that point in our lives as well. “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.” Jeremiah 29:11. God has a plan for your life and for mine, but we need to follow the plan if we’re going to build the life God has intended for us. Don’t know the plan? Stick close to the One who does!
NEXT: Take inventory. Once a set nears completion we compare what we have with an online parts list so that we can pinpoint exactly which pieces are missing. And, as in life, there is always something missing. We’ve inventoried 20 LEGO® sets thus far, and not one of them is complete. Not one of us is complete either, which is why we need to compare our life to God’s word. Then the Holy Spirit can help us identify what we’re missing. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26.
THEN: Replace the missing parts. Knowing what we’re missing isn’t going to make a difference in our lives until we do something about it. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says.” (Emphasis mine.) Perhaps we need to add something to our life – maybe it’s God Himself – or maybe we need to get rid of something and replace it with something better. “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:21.
FINALLY: Take the steps necessary to avoid having to repeat the process. After a set is completed, we place it and the instructions into a Ziploc bag. This will work fine until we have someone to play with them again. At that point we will have to monitor them to ensure each set stays intact. Our lives need monitoring too. We need to pray as David did in Psalm 26:2: “Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;”
What have you been avoiding dealing with in your life? Let’s pick up the pieces, lay them at God’s feet, and start the rebuilding process today!
Father, thank you for your willingness to direct me in reconstruction rather than abandoning me to the mess I created. I thank you that you always want what’s best for me, far better than anything I could ever ask for or imagine.
Wow! This was exactly what I needed this morning Lisa! Thanks so much for taking time to write this out! And I love the picture -lol. I was going to ask if I could use this illustration for a Youth Group lessson? We've shifted membership to ages 10 - 15 and finished up a "water" and addiction theme from the past 6 Sundays. May the Lord richly bless your work for Him. Love you guys!
Great job Lisa! I believe I have started picking up the pieces as the first step was reconnecting with you, old friend:). Know in need to continue gather the pieces the good, the bad and the ugly and laying them all out to view (inventory). Thanks and peace be with you.
Lisa (Marklevitz) Gilbert
That's excellent taking steps to pick up the pieces. I'm sure you be able to fix the broken pieces of the puzzle and get everything in order (including the LEGO) :)
That's great. :) I love how you incorporate bible verses into this. :)
I love that you use Legos as an analogy for all the bigger things in life. As a mom who spends much of her time sorting Legos by color, I can appreciate this!!
I see what you did there! I liked that.
I really love the steps in this because I find them to be very true. There are lots of things that I'm a bit to overwhelmed to start, but I know I need to. Which means I just need to sit down and dig in.
Jen - Pierced Wonderings