THE SEED

2008-03-31T02:03:00.000-07:00

n the Far East the emperor was growing old and knew it was time tochoosehis successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or hischildren, hedecided to do something different. He called young people in thekingdomtogether one day. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choosethenext emperor. I have decided to choose one of you." The children were shocked, but the emperor continued. "I am going togiveeach one of you a seed today - one very special seed. I want you toplantthe seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with whatyouhave grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that youbring,and the one I choose will be the next emperor." One boy, named Ling, was there that day and he, like the others,received aseed. He went home and excitedly, told his mother the story. Shehelped himget a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it,carefully. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it hadgrown..After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk abouttheirseeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checkinghisseed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks wentby,still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, butLingdidn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by --stillnothing in Ling's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tallplants, but he had nothing. Ling didn't say anything to his friends,however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow. A year finallywent byand all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperorforinspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an emptypot.But his mother asked him to be honest about what happened. Ling felt sick at his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. Hetook hisempty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at thevariety ofplants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful -- in all shapesandsizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the otherchildrenlaughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, "Hey, nicetry." When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the youngpeople.Ling just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees,andflowers you have grown," said the emperor. "Today one of you will beappointed the next emperor!" All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room withhisempty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling wasterrified. He thought, "The emperor knows I'm a failure! Maybe he willhaveme killed!" When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. "My name isLing,"he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. Theemperorasked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then announced tothecrowd, "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!" Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How couldhe bethe new emperor? Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here aseed. Itold you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back tometoday. But I gave you all boiled seeds that would not grow. All ofyou,except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When youfoundthat the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the oneIgave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bringme apot with my seed in it. Therefore, he Is the one who will be the newemperor!" If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory.If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony. If you plant hard work, you will reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.If you plant faith, you will reap miracles. So be careful what you plant, now; it will determine what you will reap tomorrow. The seeds you now scatter will make life worse or better for you or for the ones who will come after you. Someday you will enjoy the fruits or you will pay for the choices you make. Two thousand years ago someone else told the same story with fewer words,"What you sow, so shall you reap". If you know who said this, nothing else needs to be said.

Author Unknown
Dec 29, 2007

vonerkrams

THE SEED