An emperor in the Far East was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants

or his children, he decided to do something different. He called

all the young people in the kingdom together one day.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you."

The children were shocked, but the emperor 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

one I choose will be the next emperor."

One boy, named Ling, 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. Ling 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 Ling didn't

have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by--still nothing in Ling's pot. He just knew he

had killed his seed.  Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling 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 emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But his mother asked him to be honest about what happened.

Ling felt sick at his stomach, but he knew his mother was right.

 He took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived,

he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths.

They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes.

 Ling 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 emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted

the young people. Ling just tried to hide in "My, what great

 plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,"  said the emperor. "Today one of you will be appointed the next emperor!"

All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back

of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring

 him to the front. Ling was terrified. He thought,

"The emperor knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!"

When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name.

"My name is Ling," he replied. All the kids were laughing and

making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down.

 He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd,

 "Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!" Ling couldn't believe it!

 Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor?

 

Then the emperor 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 Ling, 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. Ling 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 emperor!"

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 openness, you will reap intimacy.
 

If you plant patience, you will reap improvements.



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.