Discipline

My unassisted heart is barren clay,
That of its native self can nothing feed:
Of good and pious works Thou art the seed,
That quickens only where Thou sayest it may:
Unless Thou show to us Thine own true way
No man can find it: Father! Thou must lead.
- Michael Angelo

So thankful for encouragement and prayers by those who care -- for trust and hope in a faithful God who delights in demonstrating his loving-kindness to his people, who holds the whole world in his hands and works out everything for the good of those who love him.

Also -- thankful to be here, learning about what it means to live in a rural setting with poor infrastruction and limited resources. Thankful for smiles, friendship, companionship, food, laughter, generosity, joy. The poor indeed can be the richest of all.

Days here have been full: working, reading, walking, eating, sleeping. One message I've been seeing in the books I've been reading recently (Book of Daniel, Little Women, Little Men, The Pursuit of God, Elsie Dinsmore) is the importance of discipline -- not discipline as an end but rather as a means. Giving God the reins to lead me by keeping mentally sharp, managing time wisely to make the most of every opportunity, being a good steward of my physical body through purposeful eating and sleeping, building good habits.

Lessons currently learning:
- patience: being flexible with time, letting go of personal plans to accommodate others, being willing to wait, not assuming/judging, having a good attitude both inside and out
- pride: fighting entitlement, accepting gifts with grace
- discipline: sleeping and rising early, spending quiet morning time in sweet fellowship, eating well, exercising enough, distinguishing between essential, important, and preferred (things-to-do, priorities, decision-making)

--
Have been waiting for an hour for my mom to Skype me, but she hasn't shown up online. It's 11pm, and I woke up at 6 this morning and will probably wake up at 6 tomorrow too... should sleep, am tired, but also want to be up to talk with her while she and sister G are in Houston to help me set up house at the condo. Very thankful for family who take super duper good care of me, even when I'm not around! Will stay up just a little longer in hope that she shows up... but maybe she forgot or is busy or can't figure out how to get online, so will go to bed in half an hour max. Gnite!