The Olive Tree and the Other Trees
Long ago, tall trees grew beside a cool forest stream. Tall pines, strong oaks and a humble olive tree lived there. When the wind blew, the trees whispered and the birds sang. All the trees looked happy, but they had no leader. One day the trees decided to choose a king. First they went to the old olive tree, the most useful.
The oak stepped forward and called out in a loud voice. "Oh olive tree, you are so wise and so precious!" he said. "Please be our king and rule us all," he added. The olive tree shook her green leaves and breathed deeply. She thought of her fruit and her fine oil for people. "My duty is to give healing oil to people," she said. "I cannot leave my fruit to rule other trees," she answered.
She refused kindly, and the other trees were very surprised. They saw how much she valued her own useful work. The trees learned that good work beats a proud title. The olive tree lived on happily among her own branches. Your own useful work is always worth more than an empty title. A tree is known by its fruit.