Trophies

The other night, I was at the school cleaning. For two and a half hours, I cleaned the trophy case, and all the trophies in it. At one point, a thought came into my mind, and it went something like this:

"I'm cleaning trophies.....There is a story behind each one.....I am cleaning someone else's memories.
Behind each trophy there are people who are unnamed. Behind each trophy, is a story of the people who poured themselves out. There was sweat poured, blood shed, and tears cried."

"Who knows the joys that were behind it? Who knows the anguish endured? All the physical training, special diets, and late nights training. There was comradery and bonding. There was stress and disagreements."

"Behind each trophy, there was a coach, a team, and fans. There were practices, games, and tournaments. As the team advanced, the excitement increased. A score. A loser. A champion."

"The victors were celebrated. The coach exalted. The trophy awarded. They walk around proud. The trophy shows off their achievement. Then it's placed into the case, along with all the other shiny awards."

"5, 10, or even 20 years later, a simple janitor comes and dusts off the trophy. The names are unknown. The time spent is unimportant. All the effort behind each achievement is without recognition. The only thing that is known is what the end result was, nothing else - nothing more. Forgotten memories fill the case. What is the point?"

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So then, I asked myself - "What are my trophies?" Are they in material objects and goals? Or are they in my God, and the achievements I have in Him.

I ask you - "What are your trophies?"

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1 Corinthians 9:24 - "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. "

Philippians 3:14 - "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."