What do you think about when you are putting away the Christmas decorations? Hopefully, you are flooded with good memories of celebrating with family. But, other thoughts can flood our minds as well. Does it ever cross your mind that you spend a lot more time putting them up and taking them down than you do enjoying them?
     Do you remember when you were in school, and spent long hours study for a test and good or bad you took the test in less than an hour? Events in our lives like proms, graduations and weddings also require longer preparation time than the actual event.
     As writers, we know that it takes longer to write an article or a book than it does to read one. So, what’s the point? The point is that we need to find a way to enjoy the process rather than always waiting until we reach the goal.
      We miss a lot of the little joys of life by living in expectation of the next big event. When I was younger, if I said something like, “I can’t wait for summer” or “I wish it were Christmas.” My mother would tell me I was wishing my life away. I think as I’ve grown older I have gotten better about this but I still do it from time to time.
     The process is where we grow. It is where we learn to depend on God as we walk with him. The process is the day to day workings of our lives. As a reminder, of the significance of the process, think about a scale put all the big event days of your life on one side and the ordinary every days on the other. Which weighs more?
Let’s look at some steps to help us enjoy the process.

• Break big projects into smaller more manageable steps to reduce stress
• Don’t be all work and no play. Do something just for fun.
• Be grateful, especially for the people that are in the process with you.
• Look for God in the little things. See him work out the minor details in your life.

“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)(KJV)