Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son,
shared a passion for art collecting. Together they travelled around the
world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless
works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the
family estate.
The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became
an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business
mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art
collectors around the world.
As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to
serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a
telegram. His beloved son was missing in action.
The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see
his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had
died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.
Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays
with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season- a season that he and his
son had so looked forward to-would visit his house no longer.
On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man.
As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only
reminded him that his son was not coming home.
As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package
in his hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend
of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for
a few moments? I have something to show you." As the two began to talk,
the soldier told of how the man's son had told everyone of his father's
love of fine art.
"I'm an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this." As the
old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of
the man's son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a
genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail.
Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the solider, promising to hang the
picture above the fireplace.
A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about
his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing
aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair
and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.
During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though
his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because of
those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens
of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the
stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and
satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became
his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for
which museums around the world clamoured.
He told his neighbours it was the greatest gift he had ever received. The
following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world
was in anticipation. With the collector's passing, and his only son dead,
those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the will of the
old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas day, the day
he had received his greatest gift.
The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to
bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be
fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim "I
have the greatest collection."
The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It
was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening
bid. The room was silent. "Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked.
Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, "Who cares
about that painting? It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget it and
go on to the good stuff." More voices echoed in agreement.
"No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now, who
will take the son?" Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. "Will you take
ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have. I knew the boy, so I'd
like to have it." "I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?" called the
auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, "Going once, going
twice. Gone." The gavel fell.
Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it
and we can bid on these treasures!"
The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over.
Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, "What do
you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a picture of some old guy's
son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of
art here!
I demand that you explain what's going on here!."
The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the
father, whoever takes the son . . . gets it all."
Author Unknown
Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?
Just as those art collectors discovered on that Christmas day, the message is still the same - the love of a Father - a Father whose greatest joy came from his son who went away and gave his life rescuing others.
And because of that Father's love . . . whoever takes the Son, gets it all.
shared a passion for art collecting. Together they travelled around the
world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless
works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the
family estate.
The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became
an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business
mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art
collectors around the world.
As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to
serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a
telegram. His beloved son was missing in action.
The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see
his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had
died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.
Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays
with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season- a season that he and his
son had so looked forward to-would visit his house no longer.
On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man.
As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only
reminded him that his son was not coming home.
As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package
in his hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend
of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for
a few moments? I have something to show you." As the two began to talk,
the soldier told of how the man's son had told everyone of his father's
love of fine art.
"I'm an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this." As the
old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of
the man's son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a
genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail.
Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the solider, promising to hang the
picture above the fireplace.
A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about
his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing
aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair
and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.
During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though
his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because of
those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens
of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the
stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and
satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became
his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for
which museums around the world clamoured.
He told his neighbours it was the greatest gift he had ever received. The
following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world
was in anticipation. With the collector's passing, and his only son dead,
those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the will of the
old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas day, the day
he had received his greatest gift.
The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to
bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be
fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim "I
have the greatest collection."
The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It
was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening
bid. The room was silent. "Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked.
Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, "Who cares
about that painting? It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget it and
go on to the good stuff." More voices echoed in agreement.
"No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now, who
will take the son?" Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. "Will you take
ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have. I knew the boy, so I'd
like to have it." "I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?" called the
auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, "Going once, going
twice. Gone." The gavel fell.
Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it
and we can bid on these treasures!"
The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over.
Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, "What do
you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a picture of some old guy's
son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of
art here!
I demand that you explain what's going on here!."
The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the
father, whoever takes the son . . . gets it all."
Author Unknown
Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?
Just as those art collectors discovered on that Christmas day, the message is still the same - the love of a Father - a Father whose greatest joy came from his son who went away and gave his life rescuing others.
And because of that Father's love . . . whoever takes the Son, gets it all.
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