The son

[Guest guest]

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works

of art. They had everything in their collection, from

Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and

admire the great works of art.

 

When the Viet Nam conflict broke out, the son went to

war. He was very courageous and died in battle while

rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and

grieved deeply for his only son.

 

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was

a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with

a large package in his hands.

 

He said, " Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier

for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that

day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck

him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked

about you, and your love for art.

 

The young man held out his package. " I know this isn't

much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son

would have wanted you to have this. "

 

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son,

painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the

soldier had captured the personality of his son in the

painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own

eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and

offered to pay him for the picture. " Oh, no sir, I could

never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift. "

 

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time

visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait

of his son before he showed them any of the other great works

he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was

to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential

people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings

and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer

pounded his gavel.

 

" We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.

Who will bid for this picture? " There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted. " We want to

see the famous paintings. Skip this one. " But the auctioneer

persisted. " Will someone bid for this painting? Who will

start the bidding? $100, $200? " Another voice shouted

angrily. " We didn't come to see this painting.. We came

to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts Get on with the real

bids! " But still the auctioneer continued. " The son!

The son! Who'll take the son? " Finally, a voice came from

the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of

the man and his son. " I'll give $10 for the painting. "

 

Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. " We have

$10, who will bid $20? " " Give it to him for $10. Let's see

the masters. " " $10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20? " The

crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of

the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their

collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. " Going once,

twice, SOLD for $10! " A man sitting on the second row shouted.

" Now let's get on with the collection! "

 

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. " I'm sorry, the auction is

over. " " What about the paintings? " " I am sorry. When I was

called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret

stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that

stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son

would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit

the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took

the son gets every thing! "

 

God gave his son 2,000 years ago to die on a cruel cross.

Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, " The son,

the son, who'll take the son? " Because you see, whoever takes

the Son gets everything.

 

 

Author Unknown