by 𝘙𝘦𝘥 𝘛𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘬
I won a songwriting competition at my previous company, and it was a proud moment (𝘉𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦). I made a motivational song encouraging employees to strive for excellence despite tough competition.
The song became the company’s hymn, played during events and assemblies across offices nationwide up to this day. Yet, despite the song’s success, I felt a sense of frustration because I didn’t receive any tangible recognition or reward for my effort. This lingering disappointment weighed heavily on my heart.
It just so happens that I personally know one of our country’s top composers. I shared my feelings and he offered me his profound wisdom. He said, “𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘨𝘰, 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵. 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘥. 𝘔𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵.”
This advice brought clarity and peace to my mind. It reminded me that true fulfillment comes from giving and serving without expecting anything in return.
𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 3:23: “𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰, 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.”
We should learn to focus on using our talents for a higher purpose, trusting that God rewards faithfulness and humility, regardless of worldly recognition.