That Picture on the Box Changes Things.

I was talking with a couple friends the other day about understanding our identity within society. And how sometimes our identity can be lost in our surroundings. Often we try so hard in different situations to make ourself relatable or fit in. We were all talking honestly with each other about our fears. The fear of not fitting in came up. It was described as a puzzle piece. We so often go into different friend groups, different situations and environments and try to shove ourself into a place in the puzzle we don't fit. As humans we are all puzzles - but we don't all fit together in that way where friendships and environments make the whole puzzle. We are individual and we are broken there are missing pieces to each part of our life. Each person we meet has missing pieces -from past hurt, heartbreak, doubt and lack of self-worth. As Christians and new creations you are given a new box and puzzle with a new image to put together. Because its a new box we know all the pieces will be there we know we are whole in him. It's a matter of learning which pieces go where and understanding the big picture of who you are as a whole but now you're being guided by that picture on the box of what things were meant to look like. When you aren't your own puzzle you understand there are gaps and missing pieces. But it's harder to recognize that our pieces don't form one big puzzle. We want to be a part of their finished masterpiece and and them to be a part of ours. We are waiting on people to give us their pieces to use so that we can fill in our missing portion. We try and give other people our pieces and end up trying to fill the gaps and voids of others when the pieces don't align and never will. In the end we loose a part of ourself in the process because we don't understand we are our own- we stand alone. We leave pieces in places and with people as a result. And that's why in different environments it seems like we become inconsistent with the identity we were in another place. It's because you find those old lost pieces for a moment and remember what was once part of your identity and find footing in old habits. You are meant to be a new creation a brand new box. People and places might help you put together the pieces of your new identity; you were never meant to fit into someone else's puzzle. Let go of those old pieces. Let go of that old identity and take the new box that has been gifted to you. Become a standalone masterpiece.