*By Julie Barrett, Founder, Conservative Ladies of Washington
I first got into bodybuilding in 2008. After completing four competitions in a 6 month period, I felt a sense of accomplishment and strength that I had lost during the previous 6 years in an abusive marriage that had left me feeling like a shell of myself. In June of 2009 I started the divorce process. I had twin toddlers, a child about to start kindergarten and one starting junior high. I had no idea how I was going to manage caring for and providing for these children on my own, but I was determined to figure it out.
Over the next several years…well ten, if you want to be specific…I spent a total of 5 years in court, opened and closed a business, trained and competed in 15 more bodybuilding competitions, cared for children who had endured substantial trauma and did everything in my power to keep my own head above water.
I was in a fight to protect my children. Giving up and quitting were not options I had the luxury of entertaining. And so I had to find ways to prepare myself to persevere through a battle that I had no idea how long would last. This quote spoke to me from the first time I read it and it became my mantra back in 2008 and I have carried it with me since.
“Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired that you have to shuffle back to the centre of the ring, fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired you wish your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round – remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped.”
― James Corbett
I share this with you today, freedom-loving friends, because I know you are weary of the fight we are facing in our country today. I imagine you may be a lot like me and think: “We’re Americans. We have a constitution. We are a free people. Just follow the constitution and make laws accordingly and leave us alone! It’s not that hard.” I’m sure I’m speaking the obvious here – the people that have been elected (legitimately or not) to positions of power do not hold these ideals in the same regard that we do, and our Founding Fathers knew this was a strong possibility in the future of America.
You know the saying – “freedom isn’t free.” Many have fought for freedom before us, many paying the ultimate price of death, and we must continue to fight today. We must acknowledge that we didn’t get here overnight and we’re not going to get out in one bill, one hearing, one legislative session, one election. We have many years ahead of us in this fight. And like those who founded our country, we need all Americans to get in this fight.
I know you may be weary. I know you may be discouraged. I know you may be frustrated.
We must continue to wake up our friends, family and even people who may not agree with us on all issues but do on some. We must continue to strengthen our voice and our “army.” We must be willing to spend the time and energy and finances to fight against the corruption that seeks to take our way of life, our freedom and the thing we hold most dear…our children!
We didn’t get here overnight and we won’t get back on track overnight either. We are going to take a lot of losses before we start winning. We must mentally prepare for that and we must be determined to get up again and again and again…always committing to ONE MORE ROUND.
I have been in a personal fight to protect my children for nearly 14 years now. The battlefield looks different, and the opponent has changed. I am tired and I am weary, but I am committed to protecting my children from any evil that comes their way. When I get tired, I find strength in Jesus Christ, I lean on my family and friends. I find ways to recharge my strength and I get up for one more round.
This fight is no different. Take rest, pray, find ways to recharge yourself and then get back up and get back in the fight.
