Habits my mother taught me.

Every morning, clean up your room and make your bed before breakfast.
Put your towels and dirty clothes in the laundry every morning.
When you make a mess, clean it up.
If you see something out of place, even if you didn't move it, fix it.
When either Mom or Dad are working around the house, help them.
Dust every week (that was my job specifically growing up.).
Vacuum as needed.
Be hospitable with all guests.
Honor your grandparents and other elders.
Go to church, every Sunday.
Don't just sit there, do something constructive.
Volunteer for stuff.
Help other people.

The list could go on. I've thought about many other important things Mom taught me. She is a great Mom, cook, parent, professional, respected woman in the church and community. She goes well beyond others' expectations for her. She fits the example of a Proverbs 31 woman to a tee. Although if I had to pick one thing that most represents my Mom is that she is prepared.

If guests were to arrive unannounced, she'd make them feel as if they were expected all along. You'd never know the difference. There is always something she has ready to bake or warm up, a chair to sit and share, a clean bedroom warm and inviting. She's ready. She's prepared.

My parents house was just selected as one of the homes on a special open house tour in the community. They were honored and now Dad is worn out, Mom had to be prepared. So right after Christmas, the house began being torn up so it could be repainted, repapered, redecorated for the scores of guests who will visit them this summer. She will leave nothing undone (or at least she will make sure my Dad leaves nothing unfinished.)

What my Mom taught me with all of this is a lesson that I did not truly appreciate until becoming an adult, discipline. The practice of doing what needed to be done and in addition that which was done just in case until they become habits.

I've found it so easy in the mornings to simply move on with the day and leave some things undone around the house. Then when I come home and there is work to do, I regret not doing as I had been trained. Did you know that work piles up fast? And that the longer you leave it, the higher the pile grows?

God continues to teach me lessons about daily discipline. Sure it is important to make the bed every morning and dust every week, but even more important to pick up and read the Bible and talk with Christ every day. They need to become a habits, things that if you fail them, will leave you empty and wanting. These things need to become like breathing and missing a breath can be very uncomfortable. Discipline is about establishing the right habits and it takes a few weeks of doing something every day (or to stop doing those bad habits) to modify our behavior. Nothing is habit forming on its own (except maybe chocolate). Right behaviors take time, take risk, take effort, take disipline to become habits.

It took Mom 18 years to train me (And she still gives me refresher courses at times.) and a lifetime keep them. Today is a good day to start a new habit, or to pick up where you have failed. Christ is waiting to hear from you.

Peace ><>
PC