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 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" someone shouted.
"$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 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.
---------------
" He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." -- 1 John 5:12
Visibility:
Everyone
Posted: Sunday January 27, 2008, 9:54 am Tags: [add/edit tags]
Wednesday January 30, 2008, 5:24 pm
Mother of two minor sons need your help. I was laid off from my job and although have recently found work, garnishments for past due bills are leaving us without any living expenses or food for our stomachs and soon to be homeless. We are behind on our rent, electric, gas, water, medical, ext. I was also just released from the hospital for chest pains and dehydration.
Please help me and my family. I have used every resource available out here and have been turned away. My mother has cancer and as I mentioned I have been sick as well. Please help us get to a point of a decent life. I know in my heart that there are still good hearted and caring people out there. I pray that I have reached them here. Please help us from being homeless. Thank you
The sun has begun to set
and I hang up the smile
I've worn all day. Though
I will make sure it is
the first thing I put
back on in the morning
because just in case it
is 'that day,' I want her
to see me at my very
best.
I do the normal routine,
eat...
(A)ccepts you as you
are(B)elieves in
"you"(C)alls you just to
say "HI"(D)oesn't give up
on you(E)nvisions the
whole of you (even the
unfinished
parts)(F)orgives your
mistakes(G)ives
unconditionally(H)elps
you(I)nvites you
over(J)ust "be" with
you(K)e...
She was not
beautiful.Nothing about
her was
extraordinary.Nothing
about her made her stand
out in a crowd.She grew
up in a family of six.The
eldest, she learnt
responsibility at an
early age.As she grew
stronger, and
brighter,She instilled a
sort of l...
Start a New Thanksgiving
Tradition - Adopt A
Turkey
Source: www.care2.com
The Adopt-a-turkey
project is an alternative
to traditional
Thanksgiving where people
can become the guardian
for a rescued turkey.
Protection Sought for
Colorado River Cutthroat
Trout Under the
Endangered Species Act
Source:
www.biologicaldivers...
Protection Sought for
Colorado River Cutthroat
Trout Under the
Endangered Species Act
Rare Trout Was Denied
Protection Based on .....
BBC - Earth News - Rare
whale gathering sighted
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
The sighting, of the
largest group ever
recorded, is also the
first time this species
of whale has been seen
socialising at the water
surface.
The inner most partI
guess restlessness is a
real problem with me much
of the time. The
feeling that there is
something ‘out
there’ that needs
to be done, the desire to
move at any cost and at
bottom, a fear of com...
Keep up the good work!
Washington can be a very
lonely place when you are
fighting for progressive
ideas like Medicare for
All and an end to the
occupations of Iraq and
Afghanistan. It is
for that reason I wanted
to thank all my friends
at...
Message: daily Bible verse by Ingrid F.
(0 comments
|
discussions
)
— For this God is our God
for ever and ever; he
will be our guide even to
the end.Psalm 48:14 more
Message: "About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends." by John S.
(0 comments
|
discussions
)
— --Herbert Hoover"About
the time we can make the
ends meet, somebody moves
the ends."091124
11:33This wonderful man
exemplifies Patriarchy
insane with Lust Power,
Celebrity, Control at any
cost labor victimized
totallyincarnate
CAPITALIST whose truth
s... more
Message: Please Pass this message On... (A Tail of Love) by Katrina T.
(0 comments
|
discussions
)
—
*If you don't do anything
else, please pass this
message on...*
For love of one's
woof and one's spouse
this gentleman deserves
the OSCAR of a true
heart. &
nbsp;
The woof, Brownie is
7-8yrs ol... more
Message: Welcome by Christina H.
(0 comments
|
0 discussions
)
— I'd love to welcome any
new members. I'm really
excited to get this group
going. My whole mission
is to try and help as
many teens as possable.
Feel free to post a topic
or anything that you may
like to talk about or
have questions and please
also tel... more
Content and comments expressed here are the opinions of Care2 users and not necessarily that of Care2.com or its affiliates.