WHAT IS DISCIPLINE?
When I refuse the easy thing for love of my dear Lord,
And when I choose the harder thing for love of my dear Lord,
And do not make a fuss or speak a single grumbling word,
That is discipline.
When everything seems going wrong and yet I will not grouse,
When it is hot, and I am tired, and yet I will not grouse,
But sing a song and do my work in school and in the house,
That is discipline.
When Satan whispers, “Scamp your work–to say to him, “I won’t,”
When Satan whispers, “Slack a bit”–to say to him, “I won’t,”
To rule myself and not to wait for others’ “Do” and “Don’t”
That is discipline.
When I look up and triumph over every sinful thing,
The things that no one knows about–the cowardly, selfish things–
And when with heart and will I live to please my glorious King;
That is discipline.
To trample on that curious thing inside me that says “I,”
To think of others always–never, never of that “I,”
To learn to live according to my Savior’s word, “Deny”,
That is discipline.
When I refuse the easy thing for love of my dear Lord,
And when I choose the harder thing for love of my dear Lord,
And do not make a fuss or speak a single grumbling word,
That is discipline.
When everything seems going wrong and yet I will not grouse,
When it is hot, and I am tired, and yet I will not grouse,
But sing a song and do my work in school and in the house,
That is discipline.
When Satan whispers, “Scamp your work–to say to him, “I won’t,”
When Satan whispers, “Slack a bit”–to say to him, “I won’t,”
To rule myself and not to wait for others’ “Do” and “Don’t”
That is discipline.
When I look up and triumph over every sinful thing,
The things that no one knows about–the cowardly, selfish things–
And when with heart and will I live to please my glorious King;
That is discipline.
To trample on that curious thing inside me that says “I,”
To think of others always–never, never of that “I,”
To learn to live according to my Savior’s word, “Deny”,
That is discipline.
~ by Amy Carmichael
