There was a time when I believed being strong meant never showing weakness, never admitting that I was tired, and never allowing anyone to see the weight I carried. Strength meant pushing through every challenge without hesitation and handling every problem on my own.
Today, strength means something much deeper.
After more than 25 years in law enforcement, years of leadership, raising a family, serving my community, navigating personal struggles, and stepping into unfamiliar arenas, I have learned that strength is not always loud. Sometimes, strength is simply remaining steady when everything around you is changing.
Being strong means having the courage to admit when you need help. It means understanding that asking for guidance does not diminish your leadership—it strengthens it. True strength is knowing that you do not have to carry every burden alone.
Strength is remaining faithful when you cannot see the complete plan. It is continuing to pray when the answer has not arrived and trusting God when the road ahead looks uncertain.
Strength is also found in vulnerability. It is being honest about the pain, disappointments, and struggles that helped shape you. We often celebrate the victory without acknowledging the battles that produced it. However, our scars are not signs of weakness; they are evidence that we survived, learned, and kept moving forward.
As a leader, strength does not mean controlling everyone around you. It means creating an environment where others can grow. It is holding people accountable while still showing compassion. It is standing firmly on your principles without losing your ability to listen.
As a father, grandfather, and son, strength means being present. It means protecting and providing, but it also means promoting the gifts of your family, preserving their well-being, and serving as a spiritual example. Those are lessons rooted in the Five P’s my father taught me: Priest, Promoter, Preserver, Provider, and Protector.
Strength also means accepting that you will not win every battle. Some doors will close. Some plans will change. Some people will misunderstand your intentions. But a setback does not erase your purpose.
My recent journey into the political arena reminded me of that truth. Although the outcome was not the victory we pursued, more than 40,000 people believed in the mission and cast their votes in support of it. Strength was not found only in the result—it was found in having the courage to step forward, accept the challenge, learn from the experience, and continue preparing for what comes next.
Today, being strong means knowing when to fight, when to listen, when to rest, when to forgive, and when to let God take control.
It means choosing progress over movement.
It means walking with purpose even when the destination is still developing.
It means understanding that rest is not quitting, tears are not weakness, and starting again is not failure.
Real strength is not pretending that life never hurts. Real strength is refusing to allow the hurt to determine who you become.
I no longer measure strength by how much weight a person can carry without showing it. I measure it by their faith, character, discipline, compassion, resilience, and willingness to keep growing.
So, what does being strong actually mean to me today?
It means standing firm without becoming hardened.
It means leading without losing humility.
It means loving without fear.
It means trusting God through every season.
And it means continuing to rise—while remembering to reinforce the foundation that made the rise possible.
“Strength is not the absence of struggle. It is the faith, character, and courage to keep moving forward through it.” — Edquardo Jamison
