Devotion, Motherhood...

Hello, my name is Ali. I'm a children's pastor, professional artist, and most importantly wife and mother.

Being a mom has been the most exciting and challenging thing I've ever experienced. I use every ounce of creativity and intelligence I have, and sometimes it's not quite enough. I'm crazy about my kids, fascinated with them, and I think I learn more being their mother than I could ever teach them...

Sammy asked me to do a guest blog for him about my experience as a mom. God used my son to teach me something just the other day that I thought might be worth sharing.

It was a Saturday morning, and my husband and I were bustling about our home trying to get some necessary things done before our busy day. So, we put on a video for the kids and told them to sit for a bit while we worked. I was all over the place, blitzing through the list in my mind. Every time I entered the living room, my kids greeted me enthusiastically, thinking I was there to stay. After about the 4th time of this, my 3 year old son, grabbed onto my leg and said "Mommy! Mommy!" Hastily, I detached him and explained that he needed to sit and watch his video so I could work. The next moment is clearly imprinted on my memory.

With choked back frustration in his voice and tears in his eyes, he looked up at me and said, "Can't you just BE with us?!"

I'd like to say I dropped everything and sat down with my kids. I did however finish up the thing I was on and scrap the rest of the list to be with them. But would you believe it, I can't remember what that last thing was. Whereas I will not soon forget the look in my little boy's eyes, and even more, the frustration in his voice.

Many times I get caught up in lists of tasks. I feel like I've lost a lot of respect from my peers since I became a mother. Friends rarely ask my artistic advice anymore (I do however get asked to look at diaper rashes.) I often find myself justifying my time, and explaining why it is a lot of work to be at home with my kids. I get caught up in wanting people to see my work.

In this recent situation, though, God reminded me that the results of my work are in my children, not in the lists of tasks that I get done. I am in the business of making people! Not just bringing them into existence, but being used by God to mold them into who he wants them to be. This is God's business - people.

Do you ever get frustrated with God's timing? Of course you do! We all do. The thing is, God's timing is very different than ours, because he is not task focused, he is people focused.

Tell me about a situation where God showed you that he sees things very differently than you do.