I used to love to do jigsaw puzzles. I had a table set up where I could spread out and enjoy solving it, piece by tiny piece. And each piece gave me more of the big picture. Life after the loss of your loved one is like a 1,000 piece puzzle with a ton of pieces missing. And sometimes they’re the critical ones…the ones that helped you identify what it is you’re shooting for.

When I lost Mr. Virgo, I did well to find the pieces with the straight edges. I couldn’t tell which end was up…or the top from the bottom. I picked up piece after piece and put them down. They were meaningless. My life was meaningless. But finally, I found a random piece that matched another random piece. I’d get a few pieces together and get stuck. So, I’d have to set them down and try a different pattern or color for a while.

I’ve been diligently placing pieces in this puzzle for nearly three years now. Sometimes I’ve thrown a handful on the floor, only to go pick them up and pray I didn’t lose any pieces. Sometimes I’ve had to stand up and walk away for awhile. But I always come back. I like the colors. The picture that’s developing is beginning to look familiar. I’ve been here before. And…the closer I get to solving the puzzle, the more glaringly obvious the missing pieces become.

One missing piece…besides losing Mr. Virgo himself…one HUGE missing piece is hugs. Gosh, I miss hugs. Oh, don’t get me wrong…I hug, a LOT! I hug everybody. But, there are hugs. Then there are ……HUGS. A hug has to last at least 20 seconds to release the feel-good hormones. I’m afraid most of my friends would feel awkward after two or three seconds. I’m a pretty darned self sufficient girl, but I can’t provide my own hugs!

How about you? What parts of your puzzle, besides your loved one, are you missing most?

❤️

“You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,”

Psalm 10:17 NIV