Of SPINNING Dogs & SELF-Discipline

I have a spinning dog named Maxine. She is an out of control, undisciplined, spinning dog.

She is a large black lab, my husband adores her, our son considers her his best friend/com padre'...and I am her baby-sitter-mom most days. When I take her for her walks, early evening usually...she takes the leash and runs in every yard for the first block....

and spins,

 

Taking the leash and spinning, out of control in circles... 2-3 minutes at a time

Getting ready for another spin

In our next door neighbor's yard...our little cowgirl dog

Neighbors comment and laugh at her, people driving by laugh at her, she looks like a rodeo cowgirl dog, spinning in circles...whipping her leash the entire time along with her.

Not only does she spin, she DRAGS me down the street, for blocks. Yes I do have a choke on her...and let me tell you, I use it. She is just so darned happy all the time, that she doesn't care. She probably only weighs about 20 lbs. less than me, and it is a major feat to control her. I am one of those people you see that the neighbors say, " Who's walking who ?" hahaha, NOT.

 

My son trying to hold her back

She not only spins and drags me, she also tries to fight any dog we run into...10 lbs. to 130 lbs., they are all the same to her. I usually have to choke her ( use the choker ), hold her back, apologize to people for her behavior, get physically on top of her & scold her, she COULD care less, she is happy being out of control and undisciplined.

Kind of like we all are, right ?

We all have areas we are undisciplined, mine are too numerous to name, I will just name the areas I AM disciplined to save time. I am disciplined about what I eat, and exercise.

That's it.

Everything else is a battle royale.

Food is not a huge deal to me, exercise is...so those are pretty easy areas for me.

 As another example , I am disciplined to a greater extent what I watch in the media, but I don't like TV, and am disappointed ( and fed up ) ,in what I see in movies lately...so it is easier being disciplined in something that really does not hold much interest to me.

It is way easier being disciplined about something that you do not really care about , or that you have come to a conclusion about personally that you do not struggle with anymore.

It is those OTHER areas, that test us.

I think we are tested with finances for some, shopping habits for some, saving habits for some , exercise habits for some, eating habits for some, worship habits, study habits, work habits & ethics, internal morality habits or integrity. I mean many of these are a piece of cake to many...and then they fail miserably in some other key areas of life.

I know I do.

 

Being dragged

I know that just being 'somewhat' disciplined in some areas, but not all the really important ones (like kindness, loving your neighbor, integrity, honesty, self-sacrifice, fearing God, tithing ,etc. ),   means failing in the self-control department.  Being a Christian means I need to be disciplined...GRATEFULLY disciplined in almost ALL areas.

God does not expect perfection from us, but He does expect us to strive for it. 

Otherwise we just get slack, start spinning out of control in areas of our lives that are our weak ones.

Obedience is HUGE to God , we do it out of respect for Him, and to demonstrate we understand the fear ( respect, reverence ), of Him.

He knows what is best for us, He loves us.

I love my crazy dog. I do what I do to protect her, to TRY to discipline her, I see what can happen to her if she does not behave...if she gets too out of control ( regularly), and if she misbehaves she can hurt herself or some other dog.

I see this, she does not. 

God sees the end result of our undisciplined, out of control lives before we even make the first mistake.

Cannot get the leash out of her mouth most of the time

I know God has given us the spirit of self-control ( self discipline ), but I think we all fail to use it in areas harder for us,  because it is easier ( or more fun ), to be undisciplined, do what we ' feel' like, do  ' whatever'  tomorrow instead of today, work on that bad habit ' soon', just basically slack off in the self-control department.

Especially in today's world, with all the temptations, all the excitements, all the 'newest things',  too many opportunities , we have a very hard time being disciplined about lots of things. Things that lead us away from God.

I also know that God tells us that if we have a relationship with Him, we will get the fruits of the spirit:

" But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, SELF-CONTROL. " Galatians 5:22

So if we want to develop it more, we have to grow more in our relationship with Him.

We have to listen to Him, come to the realization that He really DOES know what is best for us. That He has equipped us to stand firm against the world, against our own flesh ( our desires ). 

Again this is something very hard for me to come to grips with personally, I like to make my own decisions , come up with my own solutions to situations or problems. I don't want anyone to be my boss or my keeper.

Even God.

But I do know something more important than that.

I KNOW that I need God. I KNOW that He can equip me to do the right thing in all  circumstances. I KNOW He expects this of me.

I know I love Him and do not want to disappoint Him.

I just need to stop being more like my crazy black lab , spinning around oblivious to anyone else

and discipline myself in my weak areas...

for me,

my family ,and

my God .

 

I hope you have a great day, and have strength where you need it,

Gina

" Never tire of doing what is right. " 2 Thessalonians 3:13 

Don't TOUCH MY Blueberries !

MY blueberries

My youngest daughter came by our house the other morning, I was busy working on the computer...she chatted with me awhile, then walked into the kitchen. I heard her rummaging around the pantry, fridge, etc. Then she said some forbidden words,

" OHH, Blueberries ! Can I have some ?"

I stopped typing and froze.

I said loudly back, " Your dad just got me those, so NO. You can have bananas, strawberries, whatever else...BUT not MY blueberries ! "

I hear a ' Hmmpph." response from the kitchen.

 A little background info on this, I am a creature of habit, especially when it concerns food. I don't eat a lot, food is not something I think about very  much...but every morning , ( except Sundays ), EVERY morning I eat the same thing.

Blueberries & bananas on plain cheerios and a big cup of coffee.

 

Perfect breakfast

Probably for the last 5 years or so. I usually switch very 7-10 years what I eat for breakfast...no lie. My husband thinks I am a nut, but he loves to come back from the grocery store and say " I got you some blueberries. ", as he know that makes me happy.

Since blueberries are now out of season, they are harder to get. So I am especially hoarding them.

So when flesh of my flesh , my youngest beloved daughter comes by for one of her brief visits ( about 25 mins. usually ), what do I do but act ungracious.

I retold this story to my husband and again I get a stern ' GINA, how could you not share your blueberries !" I made legitimate excuses, they are out of season, they are hard to get, I don't have much.

He just stands there looking sternly at me, starts laughing, and walks off.

I called after him that I offered her ANYTHING else in the ENTIRE kitchen, but NOT MY blueberries.

Doesn't that still make me a nice Mom ?

Probably not.

It made me think of how we all are with God , about that habit or addiction, or sin that we cling to ...that we hoard. We enjoy it, it gives us pleasure. It may be food, it may be TV, it may be our internet habits, it may be a relationship, it may be shopping, it may be alcohol, pornography, it could be anything,

That we CLING to, that we won't give up.

We need it.

It brings us pleasure.

It's fun.

We NEED it.

Love these little guys

But usually what we cling to, that we think we HAVE to have to survive..or to bring us daily pleasure , 

can become a serious addiction or habit that controls us.

I am not just talking about the really bad sins, also gossip can become a daily addiction if you have to call a friend or relative and chat up about someone all the time.

If you have to watch TV constantly, it has to be on constantly for you to feel OK.

If you have to check your email or be assessable ALWAYS, that can be a

habit or pleasure that eats away at your present life.

There are many more areas in all our lives.

What area do you want to tell God, " Keep out, that's mine, I need that. "

I know I have a few, I bet we all do.

Growing closer to God, growing in our faith walk....means figuring out what God sees as valuable in our lives, what HE sees enriches our lives...and not what WE think does.

I hope He sees my blueberries as valuable.

I really need them.

Bless you , enjoy your day,

Gina

" Unto you I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens. Behold , as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our GOD, Until He has mercy on us !" Psalm 123 1-2