Take My Son…
Take my 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 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
somebody bid for this painting. Who will
start the bidding? $100, $200?”
Another voice said angrily. “We didn’t
come to see this painting. We came to
see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts,
The Picasso. 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 caretaker
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 Masters.
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 all
of the paintings.
The man who took the son gets everything!”
God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die
on the 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.
