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From:
Subject: [Mel-Kin] Re: MELUNGEON-KIN-D Digest V02 #255
Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2002 00:03:04 -0400
References: <200206152323.g5FNNfi16480@lists2.rootsweb.com>


Subject: Portrait of a 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 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 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 long-time 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 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
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Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 7:23 PM
Subject: MELUNGEON-KIN-D Digest V02 #255


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