My two local brothers and wives got together with my wife and me last night at a restaurant. It was a good chance to catch up on family details like my nephew who is battling brain cancer. He is in radiation and chemo treatment now for 6 weeks when they will run new tests to see how the cancer is responding. Then they will decide the next step: surgery, continued treatment, etc. As the conversation shifted, a sister-in-law brought up our dad and some of his behaviors that we sons resemble once in a while. It’s never a compliment to me to think this, but there is truth in it I have to admit.

The key point that the conversation brought out which I pondered this morning was what drives our behaviors, actions, decisions. Dad seemed to let his emotions determine his behaviors, decisions and actions. These could be fun when he’d decide at the spur of the moment to go fishing at night when we had the milking done. At Christmas time he’d decide one day we would drive to California and see our family there. Those times will always be remembered as fun. On the other hand, his words, his behaviors towards his farming work, his discipline of us, his church attendance were all built around “how he felt”. If he made commitments, even they were followed through from emotions and so most commitments were never followed through.

This morning God was pointing out that commitments couldn’t be completed by emotions–they are too fickle. Emotions can help us complete commitments but we have to disciple ourselves to do this. I’ve never thought this through to this extent. I just knew I’d never let my emotions rule my life as dad had. The topic of a person’s emotions often comes up in a counseling session. God was pointing out a clear point for me I can use for myself and for others in days ahead. HE is so good at doing this!