"Cut me, Mickey!"

The month of September has been pretty lousy. So much so, that I feel like a prize fighter. I have been getting body blow after body blow after body blow, then before I realize it, I am face down on the canvas hit by a punch that caught me off guard. Oh I landed some good punches occasionally, but I was clearly down in the point standings this month. Then, all of a sudden, I find myself sprawled out on the canvas, woozy from a long fight, wondering what just happened. It is there on the canvas that I have to decide, "Is this fight really worth it?" "Is it time to throw in the towel?" "Do I admit defeat?" Or... do I crawl over to the ropes, pull myself up, catch my breath, and turn around and start swinging again?

As it turns out, I am pretty darn stubborn! Even when it seems like I have no chance to come back and win the fight, deep down, there is this great disdain for losing that makes me swing even harder than I did before. I might lose, but they will have to carry me out of the ring before I give up. Maybe I am stupid and stubborn, I don't know- but it seems to me if something is worth fighting for, I might as well fight to the death. September clearly kicked my butt and alas, I must admit defeat. But thankfully, this is the last day of September, so I live on to fight again, better prepared, better equipped, and more determined.

Here is my question- How do you react when you find that life has dealt a blow that knocks you onto the canvas? What makes you get back up? What passages of Scripture do you turn to? Who do you call to help you get up? How do you mourn your defeats? What advice do you have for others facing tough times? Just curious.