EXERCISE SELF-CONTROL TO BE WORTHY OF RESPECT AND TO LIVE WISELY.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Titus 2:1-6.
Verse of the Day: âA person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down wallsâ (Proverbs 25:28).
âMom, Dad, do I have to take piano lessons?â Curt asked. It was time for his weekly piano lesson, and he would have preferred to do almost anything else.
âWell, Curt,â Mom said, âwhy donât you want to take piano lessons?â
âBecause,â Curt answered, âpiano lessons are boring.â
Dad joined the conversation. âTheyâre not as boring as they used to be, are they?â
âWell, no,â Curt said, âbut theyâre still boring.â âBut you like playing the piano,â Mom countered.
âI like playing the piano, but I donât like taking lessons.â
âBut taking lessons is how you got to the point where you are now, where you can sit down and play almost anything you want,â Mom said. Curt sighed. âI know,â he admitted.
âIn fact,â Dad said, âpiano lessons are a good example of the way self-control and self-discipline can benefit us. You probably donât remember your first lessons, but we do.â He exchanged smiles with his wife. âYou had to play the same three notes over and over again.â
âBut now you can sit down and play some of the songs you hear on the radio and songs we sing in church,â Mom added. âAnd you like being able to do that, donât you?â
âYeah, but-â Curt started.
âThe enjoyment you get out of playing the piano now is a direct result of the lessons youâve taken. If you had chosen immediate gratification when you first started lessons, youâd be able to play âChopsticksâ now, but thatâs about it. But you delayed some things you wanted to do-like watching TV or playing outside-and chose to practice instead. As a result, you get pleasure out of playing now.â
âOK, OK, I get the message,â Curt said. He acted annoyed, but he had to stifle a smile.
âDo you?â Dad said. âWhatâs the message?â
Curt rolled his eyes as he answered, in a singsong voice, âPiano lessons are good for me.â
âNot just piano lessons,â Mom answered, âbut any time you exercise self-control and self-discipline, youâre adding to your abilities and accomplishments.â
âOK,â Curt said. âI think Iâm going to go play the piano for a while now, OK?â âReally?â Mom said in an excited voice. âDad and I must really be convincing, eh?â âNo,â Curt answered teasingly. âI just want to get some peace and quiet!â
TO DISCUSS: What are the areas in which you find self-discipline hardest to maintain? How can exercising self-control add to your abilities and accomplishments?
TO PRAY: Take turns praying, âGod, please help me to develop more self-control, especially in the areas of my life where I am weakest.â