In life, the more effort we put into something, the more we’ll gain. Achieving goals often requires some suffering. I was raised in a strict Irish Catholic family of seven. My Mom “ruled with an iron fist!” My Dad was relentless in handing out our daily chores that had to be done before we could do anything fun. So discipline was established early on. I learned to work hard so that I could play hard. I learned the art of time management. In the summer, if I got up early and did all of my chores, the rest of the day was mine to enjoy.

Discipline often comes with a price…pain, suffering, and sacrifice. Doing well in school requires paying attention, studying, and turning in good work. Becoming an extraordinary athlete takes practice and strength and endurance. Saving for your children’s education or your own retirement takes incredible planning and sacrifice.

As a mother of three grown children, I am still willing to suffer for the sake of my child in any way that will help them, even if it means doing without something for myself; the last piece of chicken, endless worrying, hard earned money, my car. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” We must be disciplined enough to be good Christians along life’s journey in hopes of entering the gates to the Kingdom of heavenly paradise forever. Each day, I need discipline to be a better Christian…