Inspirational Story

This is an inspirational-story of a rich man and his son who both loved to collect rare worksof art. They had everything in their collection, fromPicasso to Raphael. They would usually sit together andadmire the great works of art. When the Vietnamconflict broke out, the son went to war. He was verycourageous and passed away in fight while rescuing anothersoldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for hisonly son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there wasa knock at the door. A young man stood at the doorwith a huge package in his hands. He said, "Sir, youdon't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your songave his life. He saved many lives that day, and hewas carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him inthe heart and he passed away instantaneously. He usually talked aboutyou, and your love for art."

The young man held out this package. "I know thisisn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but Ithink your son would have wanted you to have this."The father opened the package. It was a portrait ofhis son, painted by the young man. He stared in aweat the way the soldier had captured the personality ofhis son in the painting. The father was so drawn tothe eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears.He thanked the young man and provided to pay him forthe picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay whatyour son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Everytime visitors migrated to his home he took them to seethe portrait of his son before he showed them any ofthe other great works he had collected.

The man passed away some months later. There was to be agreat auction of his paintings. Many influentialpeople gathered, excited over seeing the greatpaintings and having an chance to purchase onefor their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. Theauctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start thebidding with this picture of the son. Who will bidfor this picture?"

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There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We wantto see the well known paintings. Skip this one."But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid forthis painting? Who will start the bidding? $100,$200?"

Another voice shouted angrily. "We didn't come to seethis painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, theRembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"But still the auctioneer continual. "The son! Theson! 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, itwas 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 mad. They didn't want thepicture of the son. They wanted the more worthyinvestments for their collections.The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, two times,SOLD for $10!" A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Currently let'sget on with the collection!"The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, theauction is finished."

"What about the paintings?" "I am sorry. When I was called directly to conduct thisauction, I was told of a secret stipulation in thewill. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulationuntil this time. Only the painting of the son would beauctioned. Whoever purchased that painting would inheritthe entire estate, including the paintings.The man who took the son gets everything!"

God gave His son 2,000 years before to die on a cruelcross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is:"The son, the son, who'll take the son?" Because, yousee, whoever takes the Son gets everything. Do what ever you like, but don't forget that maybe "one"of the people you might have taken time to send thisto, can be just the person who needs to hear this.