The Morning That Changed Everything

Me on my chior uniform

I was never a morning person. Waking up early felt like punishment, which made weekends my favorite time of the week. I’d lie in bed, still as stone, drifting in sweet sleep. Somehow, rest felt even deeper when the morning sun filtered through my window and the distant sounds of neighbors going about their business lulled me further. I slept like a baby.

Yet, despite all that comfort, something never quite sat right. I was the only one in our compound still in bed long after others had begun their day especially on Saturdays. Even on days when I hadn’t done much and went to bed early, I still couldn’t rise with the rest. It began to feel odd—lazy, even. I’d start my Saturday chores late, push everything till night, then sleep late again. Sunday mornings were always rushed, and not once did I make it to church on time.

Then one Friday, I visited a friend and decided to spend the night. Her home felt just as cozy as mine, and I slept deeply. But at 5 a.m., she gently woke me to help with her morning chores. I dragged myself up, groggy and irritated, and joined her. After we finished, I crawled back into bed and slept again.
Still, something shifted that day.
I couldn’t stop thinking about how effortlessly she woke up to begin her day. She has the grace, I muttered to myself. But something inside me whispered, Why can’t you?

I took it as a personal challenge: to develop the grace of early rising.
It was tougher than I imagined. Multiple alarms didn’t work. So, I asked my neighbor to knock on my door or give me a call when they woke up. That helped. Gradually, my body began to adjust. I started my Saturday tasks earlier, went to bed earlier, and woke up feeling more refreshed. For the first time, I started arriving early to church and even to my business.

Then came the joy: I was finally accepted into the church choir, a dream I’d been denied before due to constant lateness. That one change, waking up early, gave me more than just extra time. It gave me peace, purpose, and pride in how I ran my day. Even my business began to flourish.

What once felt like punishment became a blessing. That simple decision reshaped more than my schedule, it reshaped me. Now, mornings are no longer dreaded. They are my quiet victories, my moments of clarity, and the rhythm that carries me gracefully through each day.

Sometimes, the smallest decisions lead to the biggest transformations.

Thanks for reading
@ritaetim