Day Fourteen - The One on Self-Control

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Since E was old enough to talk I have been reciting the Fruits of the Spirit with her.  When she is disobeying or has a wrong attitude, we'll talk about how her attitude isn't loving, or how she isn't being kind etc.  It helps her to understand the discipline process and, eventually, the Fruits will be so familiar that she will think of them before she acts.  I am already singing these to B when he is having a fit (which right now is every time mommy walks out of his sight).  Now I know he is only nine months old.  So when I talk to him about having self-control, it really doesn't go very much past him hearing Daddy's voice.  He doesn't understand it.  All he knows at that time is that his whole world is falling apart because the most important person in that world just left him.  

Self-control can't be blamed on others or situations.  It is a direct choice of the individual.  I would find a million reasons to justify what I was doing when I was overeating.  I would say, "I've had a terrible day," or "I'm so stressed."  I might even think, "there might be traffic on the way home and I am so hungry.  I'll just get a little something to tide me over."  It was very easy to place the reason for my lack of self-control on something else.  Just like B, I would place my entire glutinous "fit" on something outside of my control.  He can't make Mommy stay right with him, so he loses it.  I would be tired, stressed, mad, sad, frustrated, upset about something, and on and on and on.  

Another similarity is that B completely has blinders for Mommy.  He can't see anyone or anything going on around him.  He can't use the lifelines surrounding him to pull it together (yes, I do remember I am talking about a nine month old).  In the same way when I would pull up to the drive-thru to order, I would get blinders.  Before I knew it, the intended small "snack" would turn into enough food for three people.  It was like a second personality would take over until after I was done eating.  The worst part, before I ever made the decision to stop for food, there would be a still small voice of the Holy Spirit prompting me not to stop.  It was like after I justified my decision and silenced that voice, the blinders would go on.  Thankfully, I have gone fourteen days without stopping for food.  The blinders are off.  I can see what's harming me and I'm kicking it to the curb.  Self-control is now being practiced in my eating and exercising.  I know that if I can win (by God's grace) in this area, then I can win self-control over my temper, laziness, and more.  I am resolved by God's grace to have the self-control needed to lose my butter half.

A little low on my calories today.  Not bad though.  Another day of exercise!  Weigh-in in the morning!