Lately, something I really lack has been coming up a lot in conversation. I’ll tell you what it is.
Discipline.
I have always lacked discipline. My mom always wanted a little girl, and so I think that when I was born she was so happy to have me that she just… wanted me. I’ve always been spoiled, bailed out and excused. Consequences rarely stuck, and it was okay because for the most part I’m not a terrible person.
The Bible says that God disciplines those he loves, and now I get it. Discipline creates discipline.
Discipline is really the act of loving correction through consequence. With the kids I know, I do it a lot… “I’m going to let you decide. If I have to ask you one more time to stand up and participate, then you owe me a minute when we are in the gym.” The decision is theirs, and if they choose to not participate, it’s up to me to sit next to them with a 1 minute timer so they will start to learn that I mean business and they need to respect my instruction.
Because I LOVE THEM, and I want them to participate and not get in worse trouble than sitting out for a minute in the gym.
The more good decisions we make the easier making them becomes, and we are transforming. Like Bumblebee.
Since I never really had consequences, I never really learned discipline. I’m not a terrible person; my biggest vice is that I’ve developed the habit of ordering a pastry with every cup of coffee I have. But just because I’m free of morally questionable vices {sex, drugs, rock-and-roll} doesn’t mean that I am disciplined. In fact, I’d be willing to throw out that I am one of the least disciplined people you’ll ever know.
So that’s what I’m thinking about these days, is discipline.
Part of my problem with discipline is that I overindulge. Call me an obsessive compulsive, but when there is something good in my life, I cannot let go of it. I have a hard time partially or temporarily enjoying them. I suffocate things with my adoration.
This morning I was on Pinterest {Duh, I’m a girl} and I saw the most absurd glitter thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and since I’ve been thinking about discipline, I immediately learned something from it.
There really is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Just because I don’t really do “bad” things doesn’t mean that an abundance of a good thing isn’t a bad thing in disguise.
Banana bread is good, but I don’t need it with every cup of coffee I have {sobs}. Lauren Conrad pants are awesome, but I don’t need to walk out of Kohls with a new pair when I went to buy socks. Pinterest is helpful, but my time spent being inspired is pointless without action.
and glitter is awesome, but not everything needs to be glittered. I cannot believe I am saying that, but I have brought picture evidence of my statement.
So my first thoughts as I try to wrestle with being a more disciplined person {slowly but surely… I’ve written 1,000 words every day this month!} is to be aware of areas in my life where I am overindulging in good things for no reason other than that they are good.
I’m looking at you, banana bread.
