Consequences
Everything we do in life has fallout, whether it be the smallest of kindnesses done in anonymity or the largest of gaffes in a public forum. There are reactions to every action, and effects from every cause. It is a natural law, whether in a scientific realm or a spiritual realm. Everything has consequences including the consequences themselves.
Opie learned this lesson the hard way today. He fractured his leg while throwing a temper tantrum. His disregard of the rules and his lack of self-control created a situation in which he was the one who was hurt. It's a tough lesson to learn, especially for a six-year-old. Self-control is not his strong suit, and I can't lay all the fault for that at his door because I struggle with it, too.
Self-control is not my strong suit, either. I could say that it's because of my personality type and temperament, but that's an excuse. It's not my strong suit because for a long time I chose not to pursue it. I'm just an emotional person, I would say. That's just how I am...passionate, dramatic, and full of life. In reality, I allowed my emotions to rule me instead of the other way around. It is something that I battle daily. Unfortunately, that is a battle that my children have seen me lose far too often. The consequence of that is their lack of self-control. Ouch.
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit. The last on the list is temperance - or self-control, depending on your translation. It shares company with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness - not a bad list of companions. I realize how frequently my own life is a scant orchard when it comes to these things.
So while we wait for Opie's leg to heal, we will practice patience...he can't go to TaeKwonDo, and I'll be waiting on him hand and foot. Guess there's plenty of room to practice self-control as well!
Opie learned this lesson the hard way today. He fractured his leg while throwing a temper tantrum. His disregard of the rules and his lack of self-control created a situation in which he was the one who was hurt. It's a tough lesson to learn, especially for a six-year-old. Self-control is not his strong suit, and I can't lay all the fault for that at his door because I struggle with it, too.
Self-control is not my strong suit, either. I could say that it's because of my personality type and temperament, but that's an excuse. It's not my strong suit because for a long time I chose not to pursue it. I'm just an emotional person, I would say. That's just how I am...passionate, dramatic, and full of life. In reality, I allowed my emotions to rule me instead of the other way around. It is something that I battle daily. Unfortunately, that is a battle that my children have seen me lose far too often. The consequence of that is their lack of self-control. Ouch.
In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit. The last on the list is temperance - or self-control, depending on your translation. It shares company with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness - not a bad list of companions. I realize how frequently my own life is a scant orchard when it comes to these things.
So while we wait for Opie's leg to heal, we will practice patience...he can't go to TaeKwonDo, and I'll be waiting on him hand and foot. Guess there's plenty of room to practice self-control as well!