Read 1 Corinthians 12

So the eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you,” or in turn, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” . . . If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part gets the glory, all the parts celebrate with it. You are the body of Christ and parts of each other. (1 Corinthians 12:21, 26-27)

If you have ever put a puzzle together, you know that the picture is not complete until you have every single piece in the correct place. Each piece neatly locks with another piece whose grooves correspond with those of the piece next to it. It is difficult to put a puzzle together without first studying the big picture. Once you get that picture etched in your mind, the memory will help you work through the puzzle pieces.

This same principle applies to every single person on earth. We each have a gift and something to offer. Paul sought to encourage the Corinthian church by admonishing them of the fact that no one gift in the body of Christ was more important than another. The fact that some of the gifts seemed more prolific, or their functions more visible, did not mean that the less noticeable gifts were not important.

Likewise, in regard to history, African American history is American history. Hispanic American history is American history, and so it is with every other race of people who have migrated to or been birthed within these shores. We have all contributed to America’s existence in some form or another. Carter G. Woodson, the father of black history and the first to formally study African American history, did not insist on the designation of February in observance of African Americans in order to cause further segregation, but rather to show the world how this race of people fit into the big picture to lead to further advancement.

Within every individual lies the desire to understand how one’s life fits into the big scheme of things. Our true purpose is just like a puzzle piece that locks into the puzzle piece of someone else’s life. If you are searching for the meaning and value of your life today, then take the time to check out the puzzle pieces around you. You may be surprised at what you will discover about yourself.

Prayer: Lord, I know that my life has purpose and meaning, regardless of my age, race, or economic condition. As I transition through life, reveal your plan to me. Thank you for my life. Amen.

excerpt from: African American History Month Daily Devotions 2014 by Angela Roberts Jones. Copyright©2013 by Abingdon Press. Used with permission.