When I sit down to type a blog post, sometimes I have no idea what I will publish. Tonight was one of those times, however, I am filled with great gratitude for kind people who have become my friends. When my eyes “leek” and I’m in a “pickle,” they are there to lend a hand, speak encouraging words and support my dreams. I appreciate their honesty, genuine concern and that they help to fill my life with laughter to “squash” the loneliness.
The seeds of wisdom and friendship that they planted in my life have taken “root” and continue to grow, flourish and has “bean” helping to make me a better person. “Peas” “lettuce” all take this “sage” advice: Become the world’s most thoughtful friend because as Betty Ford said, “You can make it, but it’s easier if you don’t have to do it alone.”
The Seed
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, “It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. “The young executives were Shocked, but the boss 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 the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO.”
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim 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 Jim didn’t have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by — still nothing in Jim’s pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn’t say anything to his colleagues. Instead he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He desperately wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn’t going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach. It was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful — in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back. “My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown,” said the CEO. “Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!”
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, “The CEO knows I’m a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!”
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed and Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone except for Jim to sit down. He looked at Jim and then announced to the young executives, “Behold your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!”
Jim couldn’t believe it. Jim couldn’t even grow his seed.
“How could he be the new CEO?” the others said.
Then the CEO said, “One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room 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; they were dead which means that it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, 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. Jim 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 Chief Executive Officer!”
The moral of the story:
* 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 contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now because it will determine what you will reap later.
Now, the time we have all been anxiously awaiting…This is the weekly post where I spotlight my Rockin’ Friends who are the Top Nine active participants and loyal followers in my community where you will find THE BEST people in the world! If you want to be mentioned here next week, then all it takes is to come in and start chatting with everyone in my community.
With a big, heartfelt thank you for their participation and friendship, here are the Rockin’ Friends this week in order of most participation.
- Aleta at Aleta’s Arty Facts
- Katlupe at Homesteading On The Internet
- Kristi at Child Sensitive Communication Grid
- Joan at A Bad Marriage Is Fattening
- Paula at The Wandering Hearth
- Meg at Mergie
- PJ at PJ’s Prayer Line
- Pam (no blog)
- Mama Penguin at Keeper Of The Penguins
I’m so glad that I’ve been able to become friends with these wonderful people who are so active in my community. I encourage you to add their blogs to your blogroll, but also come over and chat with us in my community.
For everyone mentioned in the top nine this week, feel free to grab the Rockin’ Friend badge below and thank you for your participation!!
Until next week…Kiss your family, hug your friends and don’t forget to be the friend you would like to have around.
Woo Us To Your Blog
As always, attached is the weekly Linky to enter either the main URL to your site or add each post you publish throughout the week. You don’t have to do anything special, just drop your link in and get a little extra exposure to your site.
I loved this story Sherry!! As I read I kept asking myself what would I do. I knew I too would of brought back the empty pot. I knew if I had planted something else the boss would know and I would be caught lying. I would just say I killed your seed just like I kill all my house plants,lol.
I love you bunches, thank you for your post, I enjoy them so much. I am so proud of you, my daughter. Have a good day, and Mary Poppins would say, " Have a jolly holiday"
mom
What is that plant? It looks like tiny bananas, I love it
ma
I don't believe I would have cheated and bought a plant, but would I have had the guts to walk in with the empty pot?
Thanks, Red, for your generosity – I'm so proud to be a Rockin' Friend!
Redhead Riter, you said you are "filled with great gratitude for kind people who have become my friends." All I have to say is that when one gives much, they receive much back — and sometimes what you receive back is from complete strangers whose lives you have touched!
You, Redhead Riter, have given so much and shared so much with your readers through your writings that it is no wonder that so many people love you! You have reached more people's heart than you will ever know.
Betty Ford was right when she said, "You can make it, but it's easier if you don't have to do it alone." It is always nice to have someone in your corner — and I know that I am not alone when I say this, "You have more people in your corner than you will ever know!" :o)
Thank you Red, for including me!
That is a truly great story. I loved it.
The plant is…..
Sedum rubrotinctum, commonly known as the Jelly Bean Plant, or Pork and Beans, is a species of Sedum from the Crassulaceae family of plants. Nicknamed for its short leaves that resemble jelly beans, especially when taking on a protective hue. The plant was named officially as a distinct species in 1948. It is a succulent plant originating in Mexico, that is grown very easily and tolerates all types of soil except for those that are poorly drained. It grows very well in summer, but can take variations in climate although it is not frost-tolerant.
The leaves of this plant change colour from green to red during the summer months as a protective adaptation, and sprout bright yellow flowers from between the leaves in mid-spring.
That's Life…
I'm so happy to have you as a Rockin' Friend!!!
Joan,
You are such a sweetie! Thank you for all your sweet words of support. {{{hugssss}}}
Katlupe, I love you!!! Thank you for being my friend!
My friend, Stéfan, thank you so much!
Hi *RR*!
Okay, now I know what you do! LOL!!!
Great website … looking forward to seeing what you will be up to next!
Julie
LOL Juls, yeah, I'm a writing and cooking maniac LOL