Self control is just not a popular topic in America today, but not very long ago it was. Before the "...make friends and influence people" mentality, almost all self-help literature involved ways to develop and maintain the true fruits of the spirit, one of which was self control.  

Self control before my recovery was almost the same as self sacrifice. It was grim, tight lipped determination to suffer in silence. It was manliness defined as falling on my sword for any cause I deemed more important than Ken, and, since Ken had so little self-esteem, almost any cause was so defined.

Now self control means personal freedom. Self control means not being a slave to impulsive behavior. It means not having to blurt out a resonse to everything said by anybody else. I can think, or even take time to pray before speaking...or better yet, choose not to speak at all.

Self control is, I have learned, one of the "fruits of the spirit" and is even listed in The Bible. It is a gift from God. It is being the good steward of the personal strength that God has bestowed upon me. If I give it away for some cheap price, such as a moment of peace in the face of confrontation when that confrontation really needs to be made to stand up for myself, then the price for that peace is just too high!

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