When you start packing to move overseas, you begin by selecting the sentimental “stuff” that you think you can’t live without. For my husband and me, our favorite sports caps were a clear choice. He loves Notre Dame football, and I love the Boston Red Sox. The sports caps made it on the list to take to Costa Rica. That meant we would not only get relief from the sun but we would also be able to take a little bit of America along for the journey.

Although we wore our cherished sports caps in the lush tropical climate during the first half of 2013, the rainy season arrived in full force during the second half of the year and soon the team caps hung on the wall. There was no need to reach for them on mostly cloudy days.

Six months have passed and the rain has ceased. One of the small drawbacks of living in the tropics is the presence of mold. Our beloved caps fell victim to the pesky fungus as moisture slowly spread around the rounded crown and brim near the team logos without our notice. We could no longer wear them.

After the initial disappointment, we realized an important lesson: No matter how hard we cling to our valuables, our most prized material possessions will always be susceptible to decay and loss. It’s important to hold loosely to the physical while setting our sights on things above.

May the words of Jesus echo in our hearts and minds as we make Him the object of our affection.

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” — Matthew 6:19-21