(Feature Photo Courtesy of Google Images for Free Use and Photo of Shannon Courtesy of Shannon Quintana)

Puzzles

By Shannon Quintana

Eight years ago, I faced the biggest crisis in my life. I made devastating choices that could have ended my marriage, with Biblical grounds. After repenting to my husband, we began the long journey to healing. We left our home, jobs and friends in San Diego in less than 24 hours and moved in with my parents in Orange County. They provided our two beautiful daughters and us a safe haven while we tried to find a way to move forward and repair our broken relationship. What a gift my parents gave us.

During the time we lived with them, you could often find me at the dining room table with a new puzzle, the pieces strewn all over its surface. Maybe the puzzle reminded me so much of our life at the time. I knew God had a plan, but at the time, none of the pieces fit, and it was all so confusing and painful. While I would do these puzzles, I usually had a particular song on repeat: “When it Was Over” by Sara Groves. It was the story of being able to speak safely about a past crisis. Oh how I longed to look at my poor choices from the future, rather than in the middle of the storm we were walking through. The devastation was far too close and much too fragile to be discussed quite yet. I couldn’t wait for it to be over. I was just trudging through, bit by bit, holding on to Jesus with everything I had, which wasn’t much. The healing took years, it hurt, but it was worth the fight.

Recently, I realized that it was indeed over. It didn’t just come to an abrupt end. I suppose things heal over time, and it just takes awhile for us to notice. I am so thankful to be able to share my story now as I look at it from afar. I am thankful for the distance between my downfall and me. I am grateful for the perspective that comes with time and the ability to now see the puzzle finished. Looking at the tiny details that were hard, much like looking at tiny puzzle pieces, I can see why they needed to be there for the picture to be complete.

Since my husband and I have endured the tragedy of a marriage that was all but dead, our love is deeper, richer, and stronger than it ever was before. I am thankful that the storm of the past is over, but during these “puzzling” times, I found God to be so close, as close as my very breath. In a time that was full of uncertainty, He was my constant. No matter the twists and turns, Jesus was my everything. He never left me. How thankful I am for His healing and restoration. Now, I get to tell others they CAN survive anything that comes against them in their marriage.

If we will hold on to Jesus, He will help us put the pieces back together, and in the end we will see, though some were more painful than others due to consequences of our actions, God can still use every single puzzle piece to create a beautiful picture.

“When it was Over”

by Sara Groves

When it was over and they could talk about it,
she said “there’s just one thing I’ve got to know
what in that moment when you were running
so hard and fast made you stop and turn for home?”  
He said “I always knew you loved me
even though I’d broken your heart,
I always knew there’d be a place for me to make a brand new start.”

Oh love wash over a multitude of things, make us whole.

When it was over and they could talk about it,
they were sitting on the couch, she said
“what on earth made you stay when you
finally figured out what I was all about?”  
He said “I always knew you’d do the right thing
even though it might take some time.”  
She said “Yeah, I felt that and that’s probably what saved my life.”

Oh love wash over a multitude of things, make us whole.

There is a love that never fails. 
There is a healing that always prevails. 
There is a hope that whispers a vow,
a promise to stay while we’re working it out. 
So come with your love and wash over us