This is an old one, but worth sharing. Jim[/align][/align][/align][/align]>>>>>>>A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They[/align]>>>>>>>had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They[/align]>>>>>>>would often sit together and admire the great works of art.[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very[/align][/align]>>>>>>>courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The[/align]>>>>>>>father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the[/align]>>>>>>>door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his[/align]>>>>>>>hands.[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your[/align]>>>>>>>son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying[/align]>>>>>>>me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died[/align]>>>>>>>instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The[/align]>>>>>>>young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not[/align]>>>>>>>really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to[/align]>>>>>>>have this."[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted[/align]>>>>>>>by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had[/align]>>>>>>>captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was[/align]>>>>>>>so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He[/align]>>>>>>>thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no[/align][/align]>>>>>>>sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors[/align]>>>>>>>came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before[/align]>>>>>>>he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of[/align]>>>>>>>his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing[/align]>>>>>>>the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for[/align]>>>>>>>their collection.[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded[/align]>>>>>>>his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.[/align]>>>>>>>Who will bid for this picture?"[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>There was silence.[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the[/align]>>>>>>>famous paintings. Skip this one."[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>But the auctioneer persisted.. "Will somebody bid for this painting.[/align]>>>>>>>Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came[/align]>>>>>>>to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!"[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take[/align]>>>>>>>the son?"[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the[/align]>>>>>>>longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the[/align]>>>>>>>painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>"We have $10, who will bid $20?"[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>[/align]>>>>>>>"$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?"[/align]Do whatever you like, but remember that maybe "one" of the people you[/align][/align]might have taken the time to send this to, may be just the person who[/align][/align]needs to hear this message.[/align][/align]You have a choice to make." God Bless[/align]
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Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
The painting!
