Forgive the forward but I think it is worth taking the time to read it.

  Inspiring and provocative!
My Son
 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.
  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 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.
 FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO
EVER
BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...T's LOVE
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "linda paul" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Tse Friends" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 7:52 PM
Subject: tse-friends my son


>
> Hello all,
> I know we are a small list, however, I received this following
> article in my e-mail today, and I would like to share it with all
> of you.
> Linda and Lilly
>  Inspiring and provocative!
>
>
>
> My Son
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 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.
>  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 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.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO
> EVER
> BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...T's LOVE
>
>
>
>
> --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
>