In Roman times, The Emperor Hadrian, was riding with his army through Galilee. As he passed down a lane, he noticed a very old man planting a fig tree in his garden. The Emperor ordered a soldier to bring the ancient gardener before him.

He then spoke to him as follows “Old man, why are you planting that tree? The time to plant it was in your youth, to bear you fruit for your old age. It’s too late now. At this stage of life, you can’t hope to live to taste the fruit from it.”

The old man bowed before the Emperor as best as his back would let him, and answered, “In my youth I worked, and I still work. With God’s good pleasure I may yet try the fruit of this tree I plant. I am in His hands.”

“Tell me your age,” said the emperor.

“I have lived for a hundred years.”

“A hundred years old, and you still expect to eat from the fruit of this tree?”

“If such be God’s pleasure,” replied the old man. “If not, I will leave it for my son, as my father left the fruit of his labour for me.”

“Well,” said the emperor, “if you live until the figs from this tree are ripe, I pray you let me know of it.”

Ten years went by, the tree bore fruit, and the old man enjoyed its figs for his breakfast. As it so happened, the emperor was again visiting Galilee. The old man resolved to visit him. He took a small basket, filled it with the choicest figs from the tree, and made his way to the palace. At the gate, he told the guard his purpose, and after some time, he was admitted into the presence of the emperor.