Self-Control

TO BE SELF-CONTROLLED
Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.    Titus 2:3-4

Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for something to devour.
1 Peter 5:8

Most Commonly Asked Questions of Contact Moms
Q: My husband doesn’t get home from work until later in the evening, how can we possibly do ‘couch time’?
A: This certainly seems to be a dilemma of our day, finding Dad’s work schedule conflicting with having Couch Time while the children are still awake and able to observe Mom & Dad together. Like any ‘vehicle or tool’ we use in our parenting, we need to go back to the ‘principle or Belief’ and the “Why” of Couch Time to come up with a workable “how” to achieve our goals.{see Chap 1 Toddlerhood Transition or Chap 5 On Becoming Toddlerwise} With that in mind, remember the main principle that Couch Time communicates – the priority of the husband/wife relationship, the desire for the children to see a loving communication between parents so they can be secure in one of the most important relationships in their lives.  So ask yourself, is it possible that Dad could call home during a break in his workday and at a time when the children are up [not napping or away for previously scheduled activities]?  By coordinating the time so that the children are around and aware that Daddy is calling to talk to Mommy, Mom can pro-actively prepare the children that she is anticipating Daddy’s call and they are going to  have their special time to talk because they love each other. It’s not necessary for the children to speak to Daddy during this call, however, he may choose to make a separate phone call to talk to the children, so they can hear his voice as well.  In homes where a spouse is deployed or travels frequently families have found a workable “how” is to have a picture of their spouse in a prominent place and then makes sure to have Couch Time daily by sitting next to the picture and writing a love note when the children know this is special Dad & Mom time.  Plus, there is always Skype.


Self-Control:  restraint exercised over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  Galations 5:22-23

The Discipline of Sobermindedness
Join the CFH Board  as they share insights on how the busyness of life, past experiences, and fear can overtake our thoughts and cause us to abandon clear thinking.  Practical suggestions are given as to the importance of sober-minded living and what it looks like to walk sober-mindedly in our present culture. To add this helpful resource to your parenting library and take advantage of the monthly special, please visit christianfamilyheritage.org.   *visit christianfamilyheritage.org to purchase this CD at a reduced price during the month of July.

THOUGHTS FROM THE BOARD

When we as moms think about self-control, it is usually in relation as to how we can train our children to gain that wonderful virtue/skill.  We should challenge ourselves to use those same techniques to help us grow in self-control in our personal lives. Just as we have our children fold their hands, taking a minute or two for reflection before responding is a good move for all of us.  It’s not only our children who sometimes need to go to their rooms to think things through, there are times when we, as moms would do well to remove ourselves for a time to get our hearts right and allow God to help us to see the attitude/thought or feeling behind the tone in our own response.  Anne Ratliff shares: “many years ago I told my children that Mommy needed some time alone and went to my room.  My youngest sat guard outside my closed bedroom door and told everyone that Mommy was having a time out.  It was both humorous and bewildering for her, but it made an impact on all of the kids.  Now my kids are old enough to remove themselves when necessary, and to this day they will see their momma do the same thing.”  Self-control is a life long skill to develop in both our children and ourselves.  Thankfully, upon becoming a child of God, it is His good pleasure to help us to grow in every fruit of the Spirit, including self-control.