When the Vietnamconflict 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 angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, 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.'

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE…THAT'S LOVE

 

 

 

 

Please send this to ten people and back to the one who sent it to you.

God Bless.

If I don't get this back, I will know you really didn't read it. I got this from someone and thought the last part was really a good thought..

 Read this…I mean REALLY read this

 

 

 

 This is without a doubt one of the nicest good luck forwards I have received. Hope it works for you — and me!

 You have 6 minutes

 

 There's some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you're not superstitious. This has been sent To you for good luck from the Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world ten times so Far.

 

 Do not keep this message.

 

 This must leave your hands in 6 MINUTES. Otherwise you will get a very unpleasant surprise. This is true, even if you are not superstitious, agnostic, or otherwise faith impaired.

 

 

 ONE.Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully

 

TWO.. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

 

THREE.Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want..

 

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you ,' mean it.

 

FIVE.When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye

 

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

 

SEVEN..Believe in love at first sight.

 

EIGHT.Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

 

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

 

TEN... In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

 

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives….

 

TWELVE..Talk slowly but think quickly..

 

THIRTEEN.. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

 

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

 

 

 FIFTEEN.Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze.

 

 SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson !

 

SEVENTEEN.. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

 

EIGHTEEN.Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship…

 

NINETEEN.When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

 

TWENTY……Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

 

 

 TWENTY-ONE…Spend some time alone..

 

 

 Now, here's the FUN part!

 Send this to at least 5 people and your life will improve. 1-4 people: Your life will improve slightly..

 5-9 people: Your life will improve to your liking.

 9-14 people: You will have at least 5 surprises in the next 3 weeks

 

 15 and above: Your life will improve drastically and everything you ever dreamed of will begin to take shape.

 

 A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.. Do not keep this message