>>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 Vietnam 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
>>this 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 somebody bid for this painting. Who
>>will start the bidding? $100, $200?"
>>
>>
>>Another voice 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 everything!"
>>
>>
>>God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the 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.
>>
>>
>>FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER
>>BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often
>>sit together and admire the great works of art.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>When the Vietnam 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
>>this 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 somebody bid for this painting. Who
>>will start the bidding? $100, $200?"
>>
>>
>>Another voice 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 everything!"
>>
>>
>>God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the 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.
>>
>>
>>FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER
>>BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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