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 Viet Nam 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 Gogh's, the Rembrandt's! 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 in 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 every thing!"
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 Son gets everything.
This poignant story highlights the deep bond between a father and his son through their shared love for art and the ultimate sacrifice made in wartime. It underscores how acts of courage and sacrifice can create lasting legacies that transcend material wealth. The reference to the Viet Nam conflict and the soldier’s heroic death illustrates the real-life bravery many soldiers demonstrate in battle, often saving lives at great personal cost. Such stories remind us of the human side behind historical events and military service. The painting of the son, though initially overlooked by the crowd eager for masterpieces by great artists like Van Gogh and Rembrandt, becomes the key to inheriting a priceless estate. This signifies how true value is not always immediately recognized but can hold profound meaning and reward to those who appreciate deeper significance. The auctioneer’s message—“The son, the son, who’ll take the son?”—parallels a spiritual teaching central to Christianity: just as the father in the story lost his son and was ultimately gifted through the son's sacrifice, God gave His Son to mankind for salvation. This parallel enriches the narrative by connecting personal sacrifice with faith and redemption. Including the OCR keywords "cio USARMY BELL" suggests elements related to military service and remembrance, symbolic of honor and sacrifice, enhancing the story’s authenticity and emotional impact. This story encourages reflection on themes of honor, sacrifice, faith, and what we choose to value most. It invites readers to see beyond material possessions, recognizing that true inheritance and eternal reward stem from selfless love and faith.