One day years ago, as my children and I were driving to the mall to shop for clothes, my throat began to feel sore. By the time we arrived, talking and swallowing were very painful. All I could think about was getting the shopping done quickly so I could go straight home to bed, leaving the dinner responsibility to my husband. 

As I sat watching my children try on clothes, my throat became increasingly sore, and my thought sank further into how wonderful my bed would feel and what a relief it would be to relinquish all motherly and wifely duties. When the children left the changing room to select different colors and sizes, I stood before the mirror and examined my throat. It was raw. 

Then I looked myself in the eye and said, “All right, if you want this sore throat, you may have it, but at least be clear that the soreness is in the mind, not the throat.”