This wrestling season was more than wins and losses. It was early practices, sore muscles, discipline when no one was watching, and steady growth that did not always show up on the scoreboard. I watched my children mature not just as athletes but in perseverance and character. At the banquet, I saw that growth recognized. My daughter earned a medal. Joshua was named Most Improved. Christiano received the Coaches Award. As teammates broke bread together, shared stories, and heard their names called, it was a beautiful reminder that hard work, humility, and endurance do not go unnoticed.
Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 9:25 that athletes discipline themselves for a crown that will not last, but we pursue a crown that will last forever. Watching those awards placed in their hands made me think about another reward ceremony still to come. The Bible describes a future banquet, the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19, where believers will gather in celebration. There will be joy, fellowship, and reward. Yet in Revelation 4:10 we see that the crowns given to God’s people are ultimately laid at the feet of Christ. The reward is real, but the glory belongs to Him.
Just as no wrestler steps on the mat alone, we do not walk this spiritual life alone. Every ounce of endurance, every victory, and every moment of faithfulness is sustained by God’s grace. One day when our names are called, the greatest joy will not be the crown itself but standing before the One who made it possible. And like those elders before the throne, we will gladly lay every reward at His feet, because He alone is worthy.
So I ask you this. Are we living for the applause of today, or for the approval of eternity?
Frank D.