06/03/2026
Reflection: Lesson 12
UNVEILING THE VEIL OF HUMILITY AMIDST LACKING
When you have money and materialize and you decides to live a modesty life, that’s humility. However if you are struggling in life to make both ends meet and you decides on cost cutting measures, that’s not humility but survival mechanisms developed to sustain or manage your life in times of lacking adequate resources
In our society, there have been many people who lives a life of humility and very often, they struggle in silence when things have stopped working in their lives. The struggle is based on either that the society is not aware of their situation based on the fact that they were already living low profile; or the society deliberately decides to put a blind eye to their circumstances.
There is a misconception and lacking of understanding between living a humble life and lacking. In the bible Mary accepted the message of Angel Gabriel of having a child without sleeping with a man. This is a vivid example of humility because she accepted to lower her standards in the society. I am sure she was perceived as an irresponsible woman by others considering that she kept her virginity for a long period of time and was about to get married to a man that the society respected as well because of his works but accepted to be looked down for the purpose of being a service to God’s ministry. The second example is the poor widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:8-16 who prepared food for Elijah even though she was left with little flour and oil for herself and the children during feminine. This demonstrates that even the poor and lacking can have the virtue of humbleness
In the modern world, there has been stories of death or diseases like mental disorder, hypertension that has affected people that lived a humble life and are now struggling with life. When such people die, we often say they didn’t speak out of their situation but the truth of the matter is that even if they had spoken, that was not a guarantee that the society was ready to support them. And at times, the affected even decides to blame the society is to blame for not standing with them during their lower moments forgetting that we are custodians of our destiny. Refer to the biblical book of Job who was rich, he become very poor losing everything include his family but he rose again
It is good that we all know whether were are humble or flamboyant that what we become was built with our hands hence our downfall is our making as well. With that were are made self-aware that we have all what it takes to raise again
A few steps that we are supposed to take includes the following;
Acceptance of the new reality
It is wrong time wasting to deny your situation and starting blaming people who have abandoned you in times like these; instead perform an honest deep evaluation of your current financial state listing all debts, assets, income and expenses to understand exactly where you stand. This will help and provide guidance to have a starting point of recovery
Creation of strict and prioritized budget
Develop a survival plan and ensure that you religiously track all expenses. In addition, cut off all negative energies. The negative will include toxic people. It should be noted that toxic people includes those sympathetic but offers no value
Establishment of a small emergency fund
Even though the debts are very high during this period of time and the pressure is very unbearable, create a small buffer fund of say MK10,000 to cover for emergency costs that might include attending for interviews; meeting other people who are willing to support you and to ensure that you have a functional phone for communication. Please don’t sale your phone during such times and don’t switch it off to manage pressure or you risk losing an opportunity
Boost your income and rebuild credit
Find ways to boost your income. Start looking for part time work, sale off unused items and speak to a few relatives and friends that maybe willing to support you (please don’t be over expectant or you risk getting disappointed). If you have specials skills or talent which can give you 1 kwacha, it is high time to start using them. For example, you know how to braid hair, advertise your skills through your phone and your charges should be economical. With the little income that you are generating, start repaying the loans little by little. In addition, you should ensure that you are looking for long term activities that can boost your income. This includes looking for long term employment opportunities, negotiating for long term loans, renegotiating debts repayment period and establishing new businesses
Build a new network
Sometimes it’s too tempting deciding that you will leave alone because of the hardships that you have gone through. Such thoughts are developed at the point of pain and this is an indicator of self-denial. No mankind can live in isolation and expect to survive and achieve. It is important that you start having new people that you will move on in the new you. These may include other people from your old cycle and others whom you never interacted with previously. The most thing is to only have people that you add value to your new chapter of life
Avoid immediate giving or charity activities
This may sound selfish but it’s very important. People will always celebrate and glorify you but they will run away again if you are found lacking again. Instead use every penny to rebuild yourself and avoid getting entangled in conflicts or activities that might harm your drive to rebuilding.
As we wrap our reflection, let me encourage those that are at pick to guard their progress and those that we are now struggling with poverty to accept their situation and start to rebuild again. We should always remember that when we fall seven times, its raise eight times