Our Connective

When you connect (in a positive way) with a child you affect the entire foundation of a family. With that in mind, the church I attend, CenterPoint Gahanna Church (CPG), connected with a neighborhood school to start a mentoring curriculum for students that could use some extra assistance with school work. (The church program concludes almost midway through 2017.)[i]

In the second week of this agenda, I have perfectly bonded with my fourth grade student, “Anderson.” Our commonalities include a love for reading, eyeglasses, siblings; relative’s named “Robert,” loving (and assertive) mothers, canine pets, and we each have unique senses of humor.

Our midweek schedule includes time for reading (homework or games), a biblical life lesson (by the pastor), and dinner (with the family) before everything concludes.

This particular elementary school is special to Bobbi and I as our daughter, Allena, received part of her educational instruction here. One thing I like about this facility is the character words that are emphasized each month by both the principal (and teachers). October 2016’s word is “self-discipline.”

The school defines it as “demonstrating hard work; controlling [one’s] emotions, words, actions, and impulses; and giving [one’s] best in all situations.”

Speaking for myself, I struggle with self control in every area of my life. That includes food consumption: making appropriate time to be with my wife; scheduling large amounts of writing time (for this blog) that don’t interfere with family time; and not always verbalizing the first thing that comes to mind when I am irritated (for whatever the reason).

Here are just a few important comments about the area of self-control in one’s life. How can you improve your life when it comes to self-control?

1.  “God didn’t give us a spirit that is timid, but one that is powerful, loving, and self-controlled.” (2 Timothy 1:7, CEB)

2.  “Rule your mind or it will rule you.” Horace (65 BC – 8 BC, Roman Lyric Poet)

3.   “A person without self-control is like a house with its doors and windows knocked out.” (Proverbs 25:28, MSG) Without self-control, there is no emotional (or physical) protection to keep harm away.

4.  “Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.” Author Unknown

5.  “No test (or temptation) that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; He’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; He’ll always be there to help you get through it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13, MSG)

6.  “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it’s going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.” H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (1940, American Author)

7.  God gives the nuts[ii], but He does not crack them. German Proverb

8.  Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week. Spanish Proverb

4th grade Allena

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[i] This can be a grammar term that refers to one word uniting with other words, phrase, clauses, or sentences. A lot like what is happening between the mentor and mentee at CPG.

[ii] Challenges