King Steve and the Seed

In a far a way land, the King was growing old and knew it was time to choose the successor to his throne. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided to do something different. He called young people in the kingdom together one day. He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next King. I have decided to choose one of you."  

The young subjects were shocked, but the King continued. "I am going to give each one of you a seed today - one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the owner of the one I choose will be the next King."  

One boy, named Steve, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his mother the story. She helped him get 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 had grown.  

After about three weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Steve kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Steve didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure. Six months went by -- still nothing in Steve's pot.  

He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Steve didn't say anything to his friends, however. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the King for inspection. Steve told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But his mother asked him to be honest about what happened.  

Steve felt sick at his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace. When he arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Steve put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other children laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, "Hey, nice try."  

When the King arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Steve just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the King. "Today one of you will be appointed the next King!"  

All of a sudden, the King spotted Steve at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Steve was terrified. He thought, "The King knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!"  

When Steve got to the front, the King asked his name. "My name is Steve," he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The King asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Steve, and then announced to the crowd, "Behold!! Your new King! His name is Steve!"  

Steve couldn't believe it. He couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new King?  

Then the Old King said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds that would not grow. All of you, except Steve, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Steve was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he Is the one who will be the new King!"  

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 for 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.