Self-control

A few mornings ago my children were all singing the Fruit of the Spirit song.  At the end of the song, my 4 year old daughter asked my 7 year old son "What is self-control?"  My son's answer - "It is when you guys make me angry and I want to hit you, but I don't.  That is self-control." 

I thought that was a pretty good explanation, especially for a 7 year old!  Since hearing that conversation, I have been thinking of what self-control is for me.

When I am having a bad day and I feel like I am failing, do I turn to my Heavenly Father or do I turn to food?

When I am having a bad day and I am grumpy, do I put on some worship music and pray or do I take it out on my husband and children?

When something happens that I didn't plan on happening, do I turn it over to God and ask for His help or do I make it worse by trying to fix it?

When someone hurts my feelings, do I ask God to help me forgive them just as I would pray that others would forgive me or do I sit and have a pitty party and think of ways to hurt them back?

I'd like to say that in all these examples that I do the first response rather than the second, but that isn't always the case.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.   Against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23