I love to preface my posts with a story because I tend to find the most interesting connections in the seemingly unconnected things. Its no different this time around when I talk about myself being one of the most stubborn people I know and how that characteristic has played an important role in my faith when battling eczema on my son’s skin. I was convinced for years that stubbornness was totally a bad thing because of what I have been told, but I’m not so sure about that.

My son started battling eczema within the first couple of months of his life. As a first time mom, it freaked me out. While many were saying that it was normal, there was something that just didn’t sit right within me. Nonetheless, I experienced frustration in keeping his skin from flaring up by searching for natural moisturizing solutions, keeping him from scratching incessantly and keeping him from wiping off the ointments right after I put it on. I experienced ridiculous levels of frustration as his skin went through periods of calm and periods of hardened and flared-up conditions. 

Then the stubbornness started to kick-in: “This by far is not normal. Last I checked, God gave me the authority to speak life. Last I checked, death and life are in the power of my tongue and I’m sticking to that.”

According dictionary.com stubborn means: fixed or set in purpose or opinion; obstinately unmoving

I can see in some instances how stubbornness can cause a person to be stagnant in life and how it can be a hindrance to progress.

However, there are instances where it is so necessary, so warranting, so acceptable, so fitting. I finally came to a point, where I was not going to accept this thing plaguing my son’s body.

I admit, I believed that last one for quite a while. When I finally stepped away from the frustration, I was able to think more clearly and act more purposefully.

I acted more purposefully with my words: “Eczema will not plague this body!, He is healed in Jesus Name!” I saw exactly those things. My son has not experienced a flare up in a very long time and will not. He rarely itches his skin, which accelerates the flare-up.

I find that this applies to life in general: For every time you said no to the enemy, for every time you chose to stand your ground in your faith when opposition in your environment tried to prove you wrong or tried to cause you to lose hope, you were being stubborn (nothing short of amazing).

Normel Smith

Wife to an amazing husband, mother to an exploring toddler and an MPA graduate aspiring to impact the world with encouragement in mothering and in social entrepreneurship.