Equipping young women professionals with young families to find fulfillment, contentment and joy as mothers and home makers without losing sight of who they are as women.

Volume 08, Issue 10; Treat Losses Like Triumphs

A few weeks ago, I watched a movie based on a true story about a young woman who one day was doing fine in high school and enjoying competitive ice skating, and then out of nowhere was diagnosed with a rare case of throat cancer.

This story reminded me that life may be very upsetting for people, beyond the usual, and so we should bear with them and be sensitive to their plight as they manage through their struggles. This young lady made up her mind to go through her struggle smiling. If you have observed a cancer patient, you would know that it’s no mean feat. People who go through such seasons with a positive attitude are a great inspiration.

Your struggle could be business failure, loss of a job, financial distress, loss of a relationship. Whatever your struggle, you keep going back to the boxing ring, seeking new business opportunities, applying for jobs, taking the prescribed treatment for your medical condition. Sometimes no matter how hard to you try, nothing seems to improve. What do you do?

It’s not about what happens when you’re in the box, but how many times you’re in it. It’s about how many times you keep putting yourself out there for marks. Keep coming back no matter what the results are. This young lady eventually died within two or three short years but she left a legacy of triumph. Though the cancer took her life, she was not a victim.

She said to treat losses like triumphs. What does that mean? It means that life is full of moments in which you can choose to smile or not smile. This young woman refused to believe that the cancer inside of her was a killer. Refuse to believe your challenge is the end of you. That doesn’t mean it’s nice, but we all get to make a choice when going through a difficult time. What will your choice be?

The Bible says to rejoice, and then rejoice some more. The believers apostle Paul was addressing this message to had problems just like us, yet Paul exhorted them to rejoice in the Lord always. Since things are not always good, this exhortation implies that we don’t choose to be happy only when things are good, we find a reason to be rejoice even during hard times.

“I choose to smile. That’s my triumph”, the young woman said. “Depending on how you treat your challenge, you get to leave your mark. Always find a reason to be happy. And if you can’t, smile anyway”. Treat losses like triumphs. Smile through your losses. After all, a gloomy countenance doesn’t make it any easier, neither does it possess a magical power to take away your challenge. So, smile anyway.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi