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The grace that lowers my head

 


The Grace That Lowers My Head



Picture this-You’re finally hitting your stride. A project wraps up successfully, praise rolls in, and for a fleeting moment, you feel unstoppable and taller than you really are. The feeling is not outward, but somewhere within.


Then a setback.

A missed opportunity.

A harsh critique.

Or just the quiet weight of reality.


I’ve been there more times than I can count, whispering to myself that I am nothing. Not in self-pity. Not in despair but as a reminder that anything can happen anytime and nothing is permanent.


This force that pulls me down used to frustrate me. Why now? Why just when things were going well? But over time, I’ve begun to see it differently. It is not punishment. It is protection. Every time I edge toward pride, something gently reminds me to stay grounded. Achievements are fragile. Anything can change in a heartbeat. We must remember that. 


I’ve also realised that success makes us visible. And visibility attracts many kinds of eyes, admiration, expectation, comparison, and sometimes a silent tightening in certain hearts. When we rise, we are watched. And being watched can subtly change the air around us. Not everyone celebrates what is growing. Not everyone understands it. Perhaps that, too, is why humility becomes necessary, not out of fear of others, but as a quiet anchoring within.We cannot control what others think , we can only control ourselves.


There is an old saying that tree full of fruits bends low, while the empty one stands upright. Fullness bows. Emptiness stiffens. The more substance something carries, the less noise it needs to make. I have seen this in people too. Those who are truly grounded in their worth do not need to display it constantly.


And then there is the sky. It holds storms, sunlight, clouds, and darkness, yet it never claims ownership of any of it. Everything passes through it. Nothing stays. Perhaps we are meant to be like that, allowing praise and criticism, rise and fall, to move through us without it becoming our identity. 


I remember once, after landing a significant work milestone, I felt invincible. Celebration slowly turned into complacency, and soon enough, a team misstep began to unravel what we had built. It wasn’t dramatic, but it was humbling. That was the moment I truly understood that true power isn’t in the lift, it’s in the bow.


Another time, during a family crisis, I pushed through exhaustion to support everyone. When it was over, success felt hollow until I paused, hands folded in gratitude to God. That simple act, thanking before acting, shifted something within me. It became my quiet ritual. Before meetings, decisions, even small choices, I breathe, reflect, and give thanks. It tethers me. It turns potential pride into purposeful action.


Humility isn’t weakness. It is steadiness. It lets you soar without losing yourself. In a world obsessed with highlights and hustle, the grounded path is quieter, but stronger.


I no longer fear the force that pulls me back. I trust it. Perhaps it is grace in disguise, lowering my head just enough to remind me where my height truly comes from.


And so, when life pulls me down, I bow and continue.

Gratitude galore


Comments

  1. Lucas_Llama9525 February 2026 at 08:13

    I absolutely agree with you mam. One of my favourite books is "Ego is The Enemy."(my mom gifted me that after board results.) Ever since I have realised that humility is one of the greatest virtues of a student and a dreamer.

    ReplyDelete

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