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One spring
we went to the flower show at the U.S. National
Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C. As we approached
the entrance, the aroma of hyacinths was already in the
air, and when we got inside the arena, the sights that
met our eyes were beyond descripti on. Never had we seen
such natural beauty concentrated in one spot, and we
took roll after roll of film in a feeble attempt to
capture some of the magnificence of the blossoms that
surrounded us.
Now suppose we had gone back a couple week later. Most
of the flower would have faded and died and been
discarded. Even the glorious beauty of flowers last only
a few days. Everyone admires them while they're in full
bloom, but no one wants them when they shrivel up and
turn brown.
Do you believe that students who get high grades are
better people than other students?
What about people who seem to have a lot of friends or
who own expensive clothes, bikes, or sound equipment?
Are they more worth knowing than people who don't have
much money? What about people who are famous, know some
one famous, or just see some one famous across a crowded
restaurant? Are they more valuable as people than your
teachers, parents or friends?
On earth, glory seems to come from how much you know,
how many things you have, or whom you know. Think about
today's text. Is anything more glorious than flowers?
It is safe to say that your glory is in your character
instead of in what you know or how strong you are or the
things that you own.
“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his
wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might,
let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him
that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and
knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise
lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the
earth: for in these things I delight,Saith the Lord” (
Jer 9:23, 24 ).
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