Here’s a story for children about the importance of honest leaders.
A King came to a blacksmith’s forge. Handing him a large lump of gold, he asked the blacksmith to make him a crown for his son, saying he would return in a month.
But a whole year went by, and when the King finally returned he reported that he had been unable to find his son.
“I didn’t realise you were looking for him,” said the blacksmith. “You must be very worried!”
The King shifted uneasily. “Well, you see the truth is that I don’t actually have a son, but I am looking for one. I need to find an honest man who can rule my Kingdom wisely when I am gone. No such men existed in my own Kingdom and that is why I came looking here.
“But I find to my dismay that the people of this Kingdom are as dishonest as the one I just left. So now I’m going home, and I’ve no idea what I’ll do next.”
The blacksmith watched him turn to go, “but you can’t leave without the crown!” he cried. “Look, I’ve been keeping it for you!” And he ran up to his attic and brought down the most beautiful crown, in its own makeshift box.
“When you didn’t come back I thought something dreadful must have happened, but I kept the crown hoping you’d return for it eventually. Here! You must take it with you now.”
The King stared in wonder at that beautiful crown. Such a marvel! Such a treasure! And then his gaze slowly lifted to the man holding the crown. Such a marvel! An honest man! He had disappeared for a year: a less honest man would have melted the gold down and sold it off, but not this one!
“I wonder…” said the King. “If you would like to be my son….?”
Honesty creates its own rewards, and a story like this shows that this is how the universe actually works, even though it doesn’t always seem that way here.
Lying and cheating may bring material advantage, but our hearts are left empty. Only honesty opens the doors to the real treasure in this world, which is love and connection.
I wish all our leaders were selected on the basis of honesty.
You can find the story here: The Blacksmith and the King’s Crown
