Discipline is difficult!
During my athletic exploits earlier in life, I entertained thoughts that someday I might pursue sports as a career. Baseball was the sport where I experienced the most success. Our high school team was incredibly talented, and the coach was known for taking guys who lacked focus and self-discipline and turning them into a great team. Many of the individual players went on to get college scholarships, and some were major league draft choices.
During my athletic exploits earlier in life, I entertained thoughts that someday I might pursue sports as a career. Baseball was the sport where I experienced the most success. Our high school team was incredibly talented, and the coach was known for taking guys who lacked focus and self-discipline and turning them into a great team. Many of the individual players went on to get college scholarships, and some were major league draft choices.
We had some great players, but one guy really stands out in my memory. He was a great pitcher and hitter. He had a 99-mph fastball, and I vividly remember seeing him hit a home run that must have traveled nearly 500 feet. (I was on the opposing team that night, and I had a perfect view of it from center field.)
Later, I joined the team he played for, but soon after that he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and left. The sad part of the story is that he only lasted a few years in the big leagues. He struggled with the temptations that many young men with money face. He is a good example of talent and potential that is wasted because of a lack of discipline.
I do not know about you, but I struggle with discipline occasionally. My greatest struggle with money is making unplanned purchases. You know the situation, the item on sale or clearance that is so good of a price, you cannot say no!
What is the cure for this disease? Should we not go to the store or wear blinders? As good as those may sound, every one of us will walk into a retail store sometime soon. Let me suggest a strategy that may help.
Set a guideline that you will only purchase an item, no matter how exceptional the price, if it is on your list. This guideline is a great tool if properly utilized and has helped me keep from making some poor choices! It may not keep me from always making a bad choice, but it helps.
Our children need to lead a disciplined life but also see a disciplined life from their parents. Paul says in 2 Thess. 3:7 “For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you.” Let us purpose to be the example our kids can imitate.
