The Gift of Discipline

I had met with a group of parents recently and was talking on the need of discipline for children today. Parents, myself included, want to encourage creativity and freedom and we should do so. These abilities are natural to the human heart and will bloom when allowed the proper nourishment. However, another need that children of any age have, that enables those gifts to prosper, is the need for self-control and discipline. Freedom and creativity come natural but self-discipline is a gift only parents can give. Self-control isn't natural-- my five year old is a great example of that. Often the thing I tell him not to do is the thing he does. So, as a parent, if I want him to grow full and healthy, full of freedom and creativity, I must give him the gift of discipline-- a gift only delivered when done consistently. This is also a gift our heavenly father wants to give us. Just like my children resist this, we do the same. But it's still needed. Without discipline, we are unable to grow to our potential. Our talents will be drained and spent in needless areas. Crave discipline in your heart, crave spiritual disciplines so that you can grow to be who He means you to be.