Self-discipline


Hebrews 12:10, “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.”

Self-discipline is so difficult to establish for me in some areas. Kids have it made and they don’t even know it. They have someone to set all the rules and boundaries for them…they don’t get to choose whether to eat a whole dozen donuts or not…their Mother sees to it that they eat what is healthy and adds just the right amount of “treats” so they don’t become fat or unhealthy. Kids don’t, or at least back in my day, have to be told to go out and exercise. We were always riding bikes, playing tag, football, baseball,
Kickball, jump rope, dodge ball, and all sorts of other active games. There were very few “fat” kids.

What has happened…I guess what has happened is the age of technology…this darn and yet blessed computer. It has both blessed and cursed our children’s generation. They now have the strongest fingers and eye muscles ever but their bodies are going to waste. I’m glad someone invented the Wi (sp). The first time I heard some talking about that, I thought they said “weed” and I said “you bought your child some marijuana?” Yes, I know, “it’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool then speak up and remove all doubt!” I definitely removed all doubt that day!

My self-discipline issues come with exercise…when my exercise partner doesn’t show up at the appointed hour of 5AM; it is so easy for me to just go back to bed. But…my BUTT shows the fact that I need the exercise and don’t need to go back to bed.

So…I finally quit letting my partners excuses be my excuses. I went out and bought a treadmill so I’d be ready if a day came and my partner didn’t show I’d just get on my own treadmill and walk. Well that day came this morning. I got up and got ready, did the normal stretching I do in preparation for my friends arrival. But she didn’t show. So I did some push ups, some squats, some more stretches…still no friend. Then I tell myself, “Lisa, that treadmill may be too noisy this early in the morning. It might wake Lee up and he needs his sleep. So, I did what all kind and thoughtful wives would do, I climbed back in bed and went to sleep!

When I woke up at 7AM, I felt rather guilty and decided to go and walk on that new treadmill. I turned the stereo up loud, on the Christian station, of course, and up the stairs I went. I turned on the machined that was so loud I couldn’t even hear the music. I took that as a sign that I needed to pray. I prayed for the entire 30 minutes I walked on the treadmill. It was a nice time I spent with God, getting this body in shape and talking with my Father. I asked for His help to be more disciplined in the future!

Today was a good day!