Misplaced Recognition

A nostalgic reminder of a great time in my professional life sits on my window sill. From time to time, I look at it to remind me of the great colleagues and clients I’ve worked with over the years. But, more specifically, I now focus on the cracks and scars of that award.

A few years ago, while my wife was helping clean up the office, she inadvertently knocked that trophy over, tumbling off the shelf and hitting the floor with a bang. When it landed, the top heavy metal broke off the acrylic stand and shattered a large chunk off the corner when it flew off.

Horrified, I raced over to pick up the pieces. My wife sincerely apologized, knowing this represented a pivotal time for me. You see, this was a national advertising award. That year we took home Best of Show and multiple regional, national, and international recognitions for our work.

This trophy represented years of hard work and dedication to the craft and business. It represented long nights at the office, years of mentoring, and overcoming complex challenges. I then picked up the pieces and eventually repaired the trophy, but you can still see the cracks.

In time I realized that this trophy also represented placing too much importance on status and things of this world. As a result, I erroneously dedicated all my efforts to receiving accolades and recognition for myself during that time.

However, when I look at the award today, I’m reminded of how God blesses us with talents, treasures, and time but most importantly, how the greatest reward is using everything God gives us for His glory. Therefore, we must work for those rewards which will never fade nor perish. The greatest reward is giving God all the recognition to whom it belongs.

Daily Directive:

Answer and Journal the Following

Read:

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Pray:

Pray on how to bring glory to God in all that you do rather than yourself.

Meditate / Make It Real:

Contemplate and meditate on or memorize the passage. What is God saying to you? Then, determine what you will do with what you’ve learned.

Share / Show:

Share and show what you’ve learned with someone else.