It's a Puzzle: A 10-Day Devotional About... LifeSample

Day 5: You Only Get One Puzzle; Work With What You’ve Got

There’s a well-known fast food restaurant in Bedford, Nova Scotia called The Chickenburger, and one day back in 1959, a young man named Eric arrived there to get some soft ice cream. He sauntered up to the counter. A young lady working there approached him, but before she could take his order, he walked away. A few minutes later, Eric returned to the counter to be served. Another employee came towards him, and once again, Eric retreated. The same scenario repeated until, finally, one of the girls approached a waitress named Margie and said, “That guy over there wants you to wait on him,” She motioned toward Eric, who was once again standing at the counter. Margie walked over to Eric and took his order; the rest is history. They were married on June 1st, 1963.

Isn’t that a great little story? I love it so much, because if it wasn’t for The Chickenburger restaurant and that particular event... I wouldn’t be here. Yes, Eric and Margie are my parents.

That story is just one piece from not only my puzzle but also my dad’s puzzle, my mom’s puzzle, my sister’s puzzle, her four children’s puzzles, and my two kids’ puzzles. And how many other “pieces” had to fit perfectly in place in how many other puzzles, going back how many generations, just to have enabled me to share this story and for you to be reading it now?

Albert Einstein said, “Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous.”

Going to The Chickenburger was not my dad’s first choice that day. Dad and his two friends were regulars at the restaurant across the street. Fortunately for me, on that particular day... the soft ice cream machine was broken.

God has a perfectly planned ending, a happily ever after for each of us (Philippians 1:6). He’s also in the details: the great marriage, the flat tires, the graduations, the job layoff or promotion, the broken ice cream machines, the death of a loved one, the newborn child, and the dirty diapers.

The life we have is the one we have to live.

Live it to the fullest with God’s direction and guidance.