The Medal in the Drawer

Samuel won a medal in a speech competition and proudly placed it on his table. For days he admired it and waited for everyone to notice. But over time, new events came, new prizes were given to others, and his medal ended up in a drawer.

At first he felt forgotten. Then one afternoon he found his mother helping a neighbor's child practice reading. She had no prize, no applause, no audience. Yet she was patient and joyful.

Samuel asked, "Why do you spend so much time when no one even sees it?"

She answered, "Not everything valuable shines on a wall."