The Pieces of the Jigsaw – Part 1
Elaine volunteering at Redcar Community Grocery
How God was quietly at work long before Elaine Harrison realised it
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..."
Jeremiah 1:5
Every life is made up of countless moments. Some are joyful, others painful. Some seem significant, while others are quickly forgotten. At the time, they often feel like separate stories, disconnected from one another.
Looking back over more than fifty years, Elaine Harrison sees them differently.
As she reflects on her life today, she describes her journey as being rather like a jigsaw puzzle. For many years the pieces appeared random and unrelated, but with time she began to see that God had been quietly placing each one exactly where it belonged. Long before she understood who Jesus was, He was already drawing near, using ordinary people and everyday experiences to prepare her heart.
This is the first part of Elaine's story.
The first piece
When Elaine left school and began work at Cerapine in Burton upon Trent, faith was not something she spent much time thinking about. Like many young people starting their first full-time job, she was finding her feet, learning new skills and wondering what the future might hold.
One person, however, would leave an impression that lasted a lifetime.
Betty, the company secretary, was around seventeen years older than Elaine and quickly became much more than a colleague. She took an interest in the shy young woman who had joined the office, encouraging her to enrol on a shorthand course at Burton Technical College. She even persuaded the company to allow Elaine have Monday mornings away from work so she could attend classes. During the week, Betty patiently helped Elaine to practise, encouraging her to grow in confidence as well as ability.
Their friendship soon extended beyond the office. Lunchtimes were often spent at Betty's house, sharing conversation over a meal, and it wasn't long before Elaine realised there was something distinctive about her friend.
Betty was a Christian.
She didn't simply attend church on Sundays; her faith was woven into everyday life. Elaine remembers the small badge Betty wore on her bright red coat, bearing the simple words, "Jesus Saves."
Looking back, she smiles as she recalls her reaction.
"I remember thinking, 'I would never wear anything like that.'"
At the time, it seemed an odd thing to do. Today, Elaine recognises that Betty's quiet confidence came from knowing Jesus personally.
One seemingly insignificant conversation stayed with her for decades. After accidentally putting a cheque into the wrong envelope, Elaine tried to reassure Betty by saying, "Honest to God..."
Betty gently replied,
"Don't blame God for your mistakes."
There was no criticism in her voice, only a natural response from someone whose faith shaped the way she spoke.
Looking back now, she believes that friendship was the first piece of the jigsaw God was beginning to assemble.
Questions without answers
As their friendship grew, Betty invited Elaine to church.
She accepted the invitation, curious to discover more about the faith that meant so much to her friend. Although she enjoyed the experience, it wasn't something she immediately pursued. The service felt unfamiliar and she wasn't sure she understood it.
What it did leave her with, however, were questions.
Who was Jesus?
Why did people place such trust in Him?
What was it about Christianity that had changed Betty's life?
Determined to find some answers for herself, Elaine decided to read the Bible.
It seemed perfectly logical to begin at the beginning.
So she started with Genesis.
She persevered for several books before eventually admitting defeat.
Looking back now, she laughs at the memory.
"I should have found out how to read it. It's not really the sort of book you read from cover to cover."
The Bible remained something of a mystery, and before long life's opportunities carried her in new directions. Yet even though she had put her questions aside, God had not stopped working.
Sometimes the seeds God plants take years to grow.
A world waiting to be explored
When Cerapine was taken over by another company, Elaine found herself longing for adventure. A friend suggested spending the summer season working at Butlins in Barry Island, and it sounded too good an opportunity to miss.
It proved to be one of the most significant decisions of her life.
Beginning as a waitress before later moving into office work, Elaine quickly settled into holiday camp life. It was there that she met Terry.
There was a touch of irony in the way they met. Terry had returned to Butlins hoping to reconnect with a young woman he had met the previous summer. Instead, he met Elaine, and their lives became intertwined from that point onwards.
Together they embarked on years filled with adventure. Seasonal work took them to Kent for the hop-picking and fruit harvests, where long days of hard work were balanced by new friendships and memorable experiences.
One day, while Elaine was sitting in an apple tree picking fruit, the farmer arrived carrying the post. Among the letters was one from her brother Alan, who had emigrated to Australia. He wondered whether she might come over and help look after his children while they were on school holidays.
It sounded like another adventure.
Elaine accepted.
More pieces fall into place
Australia opened up a whole new world.
After spending time with her brother's family, Elaine found work on a fruit farm in Tasmania. Compared with the conditions she had experienced in England, life there felt remarkably comfortable. There was proper accommodation, electricity, hot showers, washing machines and good wages. She remembers writing enthusiastically to Terry about how different life was.
Yet, looking back, it isn't the accommodation or the scenery that stands out most clearly.
The owner of the farm, Tom Frankcomb, was a committed Christian.
Each workers' hut contained a Gideon Bible. At the time, it meant very little to Elaine, and she remembers that some of the seasonal workers even tore pages from the Bibles to roll cigarettes.
Only years later did she recognise the significance of that memory. Yet again, God had placed a Christian witness in her path.
As Elaine reflects:
"During our travels we met various people who were Christians. It didn't mean anything to me at the time, but now, when I look back, I can see it was like a jigsaw puzzle being put together."
The same pattern continued throughout her travels. There was the preacher who gave them a lift while they were making their way towards Ayers Rock, openly sharing his own testimony during the journey. At the time, it was simply an interesting conversation with a stranger. Looking back now, Elaine sees another reminder that God had never stopped reaching out to her.
The individual pieces still seemed disconnected.
The picture itself remained hidden.
A prayer in a little white church
Eventually Elaine and Terry travelled on to New Zealand. During their time there, their relationship came under strain, and after months of difficulties they decided to separate.
Alone, upset and uncertain about the future, Elaine wandered into a small white church. It was a place of quiet.
She sat down and prayed.
"God, if You are real, make everything right."
It wasn't an eloquent prayer. It wasn't based on deep theological understanding. It was simply the cry of someone whose life suddenly felt uncertain.
What Elaine couldn't know at that moment was that God had been listening long before she ever entered that church.
She left believing she had simply whispered a desperate prayer into the silence.
Looking back today, she knows something very different. That prayer was not the beginning of God's work in her life.
It was simply the moment she began, however tentatively, to speak to the God who had been patiently placing each piece of the jigsaw together all along.
To be continued in Part 2: "When the Picture Began to Appear."
In the next part of Elaine's story, an unexpected friendship, a bunch of daffodils and a Palm Sunday service at Redcar Baptist Church would become the beginning of a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Let's Pray
Gracious Father,
Thank You for the patient way You reveal Yourself to us. Thank You that You know each of our stories and meet us in Your perfect timing. Just as You gently drew Elaine to Yourself through friendships, invitations and the truth of Your Word, we thank You that You continue to call people into a relationship with You today.
We pray for those who are searching, those who have questions, and those who may feel that they are still standing on the edge of faith. Give them the courage to take the next step, and help them to discover the love, forgiveness and peace that are found in Jesus Christ alone.
Thank You that You invite each one of us into Your family, not because of what we have done, but because of Your grace. May we continue to grow in our faith, trusting You with every part of our lives and sharing the hope we have found with others.
In the name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.
