From: Sean Williams To: pgwill@usa.net ; Wanda Green ; Williams, Paul ; Mary Munn ; Kathy Williams ; Jere J. Mammino, D.O. ; Don Brusen ; Curt Miller ; Chris & Dolly Pawlik ; Brother Jim Subject: Who'll Take the Son? Date: Wednesday, June 23, 1999 8:14 PM > Who'll Take the Son? > >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