Jack, although I have never had the pleasure of meeting you, I distinctly remember reading how close you and your father. Merry Christmas Sir, I thought of you when I saw this, happy holidays all mad jack people,
>
>
> > >> > > MY SON
> > > >> > > This is great, take a moment to read it, it will make your
>day!
> > > >> > > The ending will surprise you.
>
> > > >> > > 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.
>Thefather
>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 yourson
> 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
> gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.
>Who will bidfor 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 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 longtime 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 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.
>
_________________________________________________________________
>
>
> > >> > > MY SON
> > > >> > > This is great, take a moment to read it, it will make your
>day!
> > > >> > > The ending will surprise you.
>
> > > >> > > 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.
>Thefather
>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 yourson
> 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
> gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.
>Who will bidfor 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 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 longtime 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 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.
>
_________________________________________________________________
