Seeds of Leadership

Once upon a time, there was an elderly, benevolent king who had served and led his people well for many years.  As all good leaders do, the king was aware of his own mortality and was planning for the day he stepped down from the throne. As this king had no heir, the law of the land called for him to appoint the next king.

When he knew the time was right, he called all of the elders and servants of the castle to the throne room and told them, “One year from today, I will end my reign as your king, and on that day I will appoint the new ruler of our land.”

Gasps of surprise and murmurs of speculation could be heard throughout the throne room. The king waited until he had regained everyone’s attention and stated, “I am giving each of you one seed to plant and care for over the next year. One year from today, each of you will reconvene here in the throne room to show what harvest you have gleaned from the seed I am giving to you this day.”

Each of the elders, in turn, took a seed from the sack that the king held before him. Then the servants came forward, and each received their seed. Among the last of the servants to approach the throne was a young footman named Phillip. He bowed respectfully, took a seed from the bag held by his king, and rapidly left the throne room.

Phillip rushed home to his humble cottage that he shared with his young wife. Phillip showed his wife the seed he had received and told her of the king’s plan to select the next ruler. Phillip cleaned their best clay pot, filled it with the most fertile soil he could find, and lovingly planted the seed he had been given. Over the next weeks and months, Phillip and his wife lovingly watered and fertilized the seed, but alas, nothing seemed to be growing in the pot.

While performing his duties in the castle, Phillip heard the other servants and elders bragging and boasting of the voluminous, colorful plants they were cultivating. Phillip and his wife were dejected, but they meticulously cared for the seed in the pot for the rest of the year. 

On the appointed day, all of the king’s elders and servants reconvened in the throne room to present their plants to the king and await his decision as to who would be his successor. The king commented on the lavish and healthy plants everyone had grown, and when it was Phillip’s turn to come forward, he was embarrassed to set before the king an empty pot. The other servants and elders laughed and jeered at Phillip’s obvious failure.

The king stood and raised his hands for silence, then announced, “I am pleased to turn my throne and the leadership of our land over to my honorable and dedicated servant, Phillip.”

Everyone gathered in the throne room stood in stunned silence until the king explained, “One year ago, I gave each of you a seed. All of the seeds had been boiled. They were dead and unable to produce any of the plants you have presented here today. Phillip deserves your allegiance and your honor as he has demonstrated the first and most important element of leadership: that of honesty and integrity.”

As you go through your day today, plant honesty, and you will live happily ever after.

Today’s the day!

Jim Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa, OK  74145-9082; by email at Jim@JimStovall.com; or on Facebook at Facebook.com/JimStovallAuthor

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