"What are the words engraved on the locket?"
"Here, I'll read them to you. Never forget them, John. They
have really helped me when times got tough. I pray that they also
bathe you in comfort during times of difficulty. They say:
Through the steel of discipline, you will forge a character
rich with courage and peace. Through the virtue of Will,
you are destined to rise to life's highest ideal and live
within a heavenly mansion filled with all that is good,
joyful and vital. Without them, you are lost like a
mariner without a compass, one who eventually sinks
with his ship."I have never really thought about the importance of self-
control, although there have been many times I've wished I had
more discipline," I admitted. "Are you saying that I can actually
build discipline, the way my teenage son builds his biceps at the
local gym?"
"The analogy is an excellent one. You condition your
willpower just as your son conditions his body at the gym.
Anyone, no matter how weak or lethargic they might currently
be, can grow disciplined within a relatively short time. Mahatma
Gandhi is a good example. When most people think of this
modern-day saint they remember a man who could go weeks
without food in the pursuit of his cause, and endure tremendous
pain for the sake of his convictions. But when you study
Gandhi's life, you will see that he was not always a master of
self-control."
"You're not going to tell me that Gandhi was a chocoholic
are you?"