Habits.
Discipline.
These two words embody the life-blood of a Charlotte Mason education.
And they are powerful, whether it be the absence or the presence of them.
I am frequently reminded of where I am needing improvement.
The following excerpt from The Blue Fairy Book, of all places, is no exception.
I was reading a portion of Prince Darling today with Alice (Year 1).
As I said the words out loud, I couldn't help but feel the conviction again that our lives (starting with mine) need little adjustments.
Lord, help me. This is difficult!
When the Prince grew old enough to understand,
he soon learnt that there could be nothing worse than to be proud, obstinate, and conceited,
and he had really tried to cure himself of these defects, but by that time his faults had become habits;
and a bad habit is very hard to get rid of.
Not that he was naturally of a bad disposition;
he was truly sorry when he had been naughty, and said:
"I am very unhappy to have to struggle against my anger and pride every day;
if I had been punished for them when I was little
they would not be such a trouble to me now."
The Blue Fairy Book
Prince Darling
Andrew Lang
p281
Ouch! Powerful words, Kristyn. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOh my, isn't that true. I think we sometimes forget that mental habits are just as dangerous than physical habits, if not more so. "I am very unhappy to have to struggle against my anger and pride every day; if I had been punished for them when I was little they would not be such a trouble to me now." << Remembering this bit in particular. Very convicting!
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