Some days, I wake up a little slow and weak but with coffee and a little time, pain starts to decrease and I start to feel a little energy. It’s exciting to think I may be able to accomplish even simple tasks like making breakfast and doing dishes or laundry.

Defeat: prevent (someone) from achieving an aim.

But when my body starts to fail, bringing pain and weakness, disappointment sets in quickly. And just a little too easy.

Disappointment: dissatisfaction that follows the failure of expectations or hope. Hope for energy. Hope for accomplishment. Hope for just a little bit of time out of bed.

I remind myself that this is a temporary setback. If I let disappointment fester, if I let it get a foothold into my mind, it can provoke discouragement.

Discouragement: to lose heart and become broken in spirit. It is hard to recover from a broken spirit.

I am thankful for a family who are always here with smiles and love. It’s their hope for me that brings me out of discouragement time and time again.

I’ve lived with pain and fatigue and a variety of bizarre symptoms for 13 years – and I’ve been flat out disabled every day for the last 6. I admit at times I’ve been overcome by despair.

Despair: to be utterly at loss, destitute of measures or resources, to give up all hope.

It’s ok to acknowledge negative emotions – recognizing them is an important part of setting them aside. Disappointment, discouragement and even despair can overtake me so quickly and easily.

But I can’t let those feelings drive my life.

“Find a miracle, and hold onto it” ~Elizabeth Smart

There are small miracles that happen every day – little bits of hope that have the power to overcome even the darkest and hardest moments. Our job is to find those miracles – seek them out and cling to them for life.

Because DEFEAT goes both ways. We can be overcome or we can be an OVERCOMER.

What we can never do – is give up.

DEFEAT: WIN A VICTORY