Do Not Lose Courage
The Slonimer related the following story:
"A commander-in-chief received a message telling him that his main line of defense had been broken by the enemy. He was greatly distressed and his emotions showed plainly on his countenance. His wife heard the nature of the message, and entering her husband's room, she said: 'I too at this very moment have received tidings worse than yours.'
'And what are they?' inquired the commander with agitation.
'I have read the discouragement on your face,' replied the wife. 'Loss of courage is worse than loss of defense.'
By the same token, loss of the will to battle our evil impulses is worse than the offense we commit when we are overpowered by them."
Source: Or Yesharim
