We are a culture obsessed with awards, aren’t we? Participation trophies, annual certificates of appreciation, engraved plaques for most improved scout team player, whatever. We just can’t get enough of them.
So I’ve decided to create an award. I mean, why not? All you have to do is declare the award exists and make an appropriate trophy or certificate or something and then figure out who to give it to.
Seeing this trophy just proves anyone can invent an award:
Not sure who the lucky winner of the 1922 Purdue Egg Show Grand Sweepstakes Winner was, but their parents and family must have been super proud.
The award I am envisioning isn’t even for a select few or just one person who wins it on an annual basis. This award should go out to, oh, say, billions of people, and nothing would make me happier than to award it every second of every day.
I’m calling it the “Joseph’s Heart Award for Meritorious Action” or The Joseph’s Heart Award for short. It will be given to the person who decides to be a parent, guardian, mentor, or role model when it wasn’t their job to begin with. It’s for the guy or gal who steps up and fills someone else’s shoes without seeking reward or glory. Just because it is in their heart to do so. Because they believe God is asking them to. Just like Joseph did.
Hopefully you know someone like that. Lots of people like that. Maybe even you.
The very first winner of the Joseph’s Heart Award is:
My husband Dan.
Is there judicial bias here? Yes. Guilty as charged.
But stay with me.
When Dan first heard the news our youngest son was about to be born and needed parents, he said Yes. Knowing nothing about this baby, he said Yes. Zero hesitation. When the baby was born weeks early, my husband was 100 miles away and he immediately turned his car around and returned home. Lawyers and social workers called and he said, Yes, Yes, I will be this child’s father.
The night before we brought our son home, Dan stayed up late putting together a cradle and giddily calling family and friends, waking them up with the good news. When we finally went to bed, he slept soundly while I stared at the ceiling, a bundle of excitement, apprehension and raw emotion. I was a wreck; his confidence was unnerving.
(May have wanted to choke him at this point, I’m not sure).
Pulling into the hospital parking lot the next morning, I asked him, “What are you thinking right now?” and he looked at me and said “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”
Sounds like Joseph to me.
(Update: the Egg Show Grand Sweepstakes Winner was Mrs. Catherine Wickwire of Angola, Indiana. There were over 100,00 eggs in multiple categories competing for the trophy according to the June 1922 edition of the Poultry Tribune.)