Process vs. Product

When I was in college in Madison we learned in the school of education

that for young children the process is much more important than the product.

Those words struck an out-of-tune chord within me.

The process of the project was more important than the product?

You mean, if the product was super ugly and unidentifiable,

it didn't matter as long as the process during which the product was made was a learning experience?

Although I did not agree with that concept in that moment, I began to teach according to that philosophy

and just this week (12+ years later) the Lord brought this concept back to mind.

Samuel has enjoyed watercoloring while Katrina does some of her school work.

Thankfully, God has helped me recognize orderliness and cleanliness as an idol in my life

and has done a work that has transformed life for both me and my family.

Because of this work, I have allowed Samuel to watercolor while Katrina does school work and even other times during the day.

On Friday he found the watercolor paints and brought them to me,

asking with his adorable face if he could paint.

I conceded and got him set up.

I am being delivered from the stronghold of a spotless house but I am not stupid.

Samuel paints in his highchair while wearing only his diaper.

When he was finished he let me know by trying to get out of his highchair, his trademark "I am done" behavior.

I took a look at him and thought, "What a waste. That paper is a piece of garbage, not a piece of art."

In that moment God reminded me of that mindset:

"The process is more important than the product."

I smiled at Samuel and took a picture of his hands.

These are a great representation of the process.

Then I looked up and saw this...

and this...

and I could not help but think that this is what God calls us to in the process.

He calls us to "consider it all joy" (James 1:2) in the meantimes and God used this experience with

Samuel and the watercolors to teach me an important lesson.

There is a distinction, however, from what I learned in Madison and what God teaches.

God is definitely conconcered about the process.

In fact, many times in my life, most times, I have learned more in the process than I do after the product is present.

Samuel also learned more in the process of the watercoloring than he did after he finished.

But the distinction is this, we are not pieces of garbage after the process ends.

We are pieces of art.

We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

God is equally concerned about the process as He is the product.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving me a rhema word.

Thank You for uttering Your Word to me through watercolors and process and product mentality.

Please help me to be joyful in the process because You are as equally

concerned about the process as You are about the product.