Do you know how long it takes for a one and a half year old to pick up 35 pieces of puzzle one at a time? I do! A very l-o-n-g time!

My son asked me if I would watch my granddaughter Naomi, while they went to do some errands. After she got done playing with various toys that included putting a scarf over my head and saying “hide Poppa!” laughing as it fell to the floor, she wanted to do a Barney puzzle. (Puzzles I like-Barney not so much.) She ended up much more interested in the “taking the puzzle apart” part than in putting it together. I asked her to put away, so while I held the plastic bag, she picked up every piece. One by one. It took a while. I could have asked her to pick up more than one at a time. Or helped her. But, the beauty of NOW is who is in it. Me, Naomi and Jesus. A now moment is not hurried.

I watch way too many parents and grandparents telling children to “hurry up”. Or they take over and do it. In my world I believe in the “rest of God” so causing anxiety and urgency would be the antithesis of what I believe.

Folks-I believe in process. I believe in letting the process take hold and be complete. You can speed up a wine making process or food making process, but the result is not always better.

This is from my book “Stop The Interrupted Process”…

Years ago, while taking a psychology class, I was one of the two subjects used for an experiment. Each of us was sent outside the room with the instruction to wait until called in. While the two of us were outside the instructor explained to the class the procedure that they would witness.

The first subject was called back in and went through the procedure. A few moments later I was called into the room. I was seated at a table. They put the pieces to a small puzzle in front of me asking me to assemble it. As I moved through the puzzle, she pushed the puzzle and its pieces away, saying “NEXT!” She put 5 or 6 rubber bands in front of me and asked me to connect them. I began the process of connecting the rubber bands and moments later she picked abruptly picked them up yelling “NEXT!” She put half a dozen pencils scattered in various directions and asked me to put the points on one end and the erasers on the other.  Out of the corner of my eye I saw the remaining tests. As I aligned the pencils she pushed them away yelling “NEXT!” I jumped up from the table tipping it over and walking out of the room cursing the “process.” I later returned to hear the outcome of the test.

Interruptions will cause you to wonder, to fear, to be anxious.

I recognize how hard it is sometimes when a child or even an adult is slowly moving along. I have watched many a child stop for every rock, bug or leaf. But one of the processes of seeing “mature sons in the earth” occur is allowing for them to complete their process. I know you may want to jump in and “do it yourself” but how will they learn? Do you always want to be cooking, cleaning or ministering? Teach them and allow for the process! I understand that we may be able to do it better, but the point is to have them be able to do it.

A lot of the growth will first take place in the parent, mentor or equipper. And THEN in the child or disciple.

We took about “stopping and smelling the flowers” or “waking up and smelling the coffee” but this is the reality of the process. Let them walk through it. Not all change will be painless or without mess, but who cares?

Wrap your head around the goal today. Mature healthy children. Whether it be in the natural or the spiritual, the goal is the same. Maturity is the result of allowing for process to be carried out.

Today let us not only “smell the flowers” but let us encourage others in their walk and process to smell the flowers.