Stubborn as a mule.

I leverage it as my super power now, and so can you.

I’m stubborn. I’ll be the first to admit it. When I believe something to be true, and when I believe that what I’m fighting for is just, I’ll never back down. I am not easily persuaded, and I don’t jump on bandwagons.

My stubbornness has gotten me in a lot of trouble over the years. When I was younger I would hold on long after realizing I was actually wrong or that I didn’t have all the facts. I’ve learned over the years to hold my opinion loosely, and to be humble even when I think I’m right, because it doesn’t feel good to have to go back and say, “Hey I’m sorry, I was wrong.” (Which I WILL do, on sheer principle, regardless of how bitter the words taste.)

With maturity comes wisdom. And while I’m still stubborn, I have learned a few things about how to harness my stubbornness for good.

Because there are some things worth being stubborn about.

I’ve learned to be stubborn about the safety and wellbeing of my children. I’m stubborn and unwavering in my love for others, especially my family. I’m stubbornly loyal. I’m also stubborn about preaching the Gospel of Christ. I have been and will continue to stubbornly empower women to use their gifts, talents, and abilities to lead within the Body of Christ. I’m stubborn about my dreams and goals for the future.

In the words of Robert Van Winkle in his hit song, Ice Ice Baby, “If there was a problem, yo - I’ll solve it. Check out the hook while my DJ revolves it.”

I don’t have a DJ - unless you count when my teenagers get ahold of my aux cord in the card - but I do have a tenacity for solving problems. If I want something bad enough, but there’s a problem in the way, I become stubborn in my resolution to solve that problem.

If you’re stubborn, it doesn’t have to be a character flaw. You just have to retrain yourself to harness all of that stubbornness for something good. Don’t waste it all trying to be right about everything. Not everyone who disagrees with you is wrong. It’s more respectable to admit when you’re wrong, apologize when you need to, and then LEARN from that.

What are you passionate about?
What kind of changes do you want to see in the world?
Who are the people you’re called to love and build a life with?

Whatever the answers to those questions were, let your stubbornness have a field day in THOSE areas. There are some things in this world that are worth being stubborn about.

There’s a reason the phrase “stubborn as a mule” exists. Mules are stubborn, no doubt. But they also have more stamina and longevity than horses. They are resilient working animals that can thrive in some of the harshest of environments. They have a keen sense of danger and they are cautious yet unrelenting, making them preferable over a horse to ride when traveling over difficult terrain.

So yeah, say I’m stubborn as a mule if you want, but while others are classifying that as a negative, I admire the mule. Sometimes a mule is the better choice because life is often the most difficult of terrain. Also have you ever seen how cute they are? Be so for real right now. Look into those eyes.

Thanks for reading. In my last Substack I shared about some difficult things going on in my life right now & I asked for some help. I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who helped in any way. I appreciate it so much.

I also wanted to report that I’m about a half of the way to this goal being met. If you want to know more about how you can help, check out my last Substack post.

My next Substack post/personal update will only be viewable to my paid subscribers, because the details are sensitive. If you’re interested in seeing my future personal life updates or more sensitive posts, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.

Either way, thanks for being a part of my little world here. 💜