Happy
Easter to ALL
The
Butterfly
Stirring the Soul!
The 'JESUS LOVES YOU' Power
Point will warm your Heart!
Happy Easter to all
and God bless, Jill and Cal
THE
SON
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his
devoted young
son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they
traveled
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 Easter 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
Easter 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 soldier,
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 Easter
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
clamored.
He told his neighbors 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 Easter
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!"
Just as those art collectors discovered on that Easter
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.
Happy Easter to all and God
bless, Jill and Cal