Fruit of the Spirit - Self-control

<p>Good morning, Five Minute Families. Thank you for joining us this morning as we continue our deep dive into the fruit of the spirit. Science tells us that self-control is what separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom, that the part of the brain where we find the ability of self-control is the prefrontal cortex and that is larger in humans than in any other mammal. Humans make decisions, plan, and problem-solve, all of which require self-control. Self-control is not a given simply because one grows older. It is a skill to be learned and practiced. </p><p>When I was a young girl, my mom had a traveling salesman who knocked on the door. He was selling a record with songs about the fruit of the spirit. My mother bought that record with the last $3 she had, and my sister and I sang those songs throughout our childhood. Then, when we became mamas, we began singing those songs to our children. More than 45 years later, the fruit of the spirit songs still ring in my mind - the one about self-control talks of kicking things when mad and eating too many sweets. Both of which families can relate to.</p><p>Proverbs 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.</p><p>2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.</p><p>Titus 2:12 [God’s grace trains] us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,</p><p>Please note, parents, that each of these major points we will share next have to be broken down further for the kiddos. We will get the ball rolling here, but remember not to just state the point and expect your kids to fully grasp the concept. </p><p>Shift your perspective. We parents may need to shift how we see things such as doing the dishes or mowing the lawn. If we are always complaining about these necessary tasks, we are less likely to structure our time toward doing them and thus less likely to exercise self-control in order to get them done. If we