Take the Son and you take it all...

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son,shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around theworld, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection.The widowed elderly man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

As winter approached, war engulfed their nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, the elderly manreceived a telegram that his beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see hisson again. Within days his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.

Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season-a season that he and his son had so looked forward to in the past-would visit his house no longer. On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home.

He opened the door and was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand.The soldier introduced himself to the old man by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come infor a few moments? I have something to show you." As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man's son had told every one of his-andhis father's-love of fine art work. "I'm also an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this." As the old man began to unwrapthe package, paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man's son.

Though the world would never consider it a work of genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail.Overcome with emotion, the old man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the portrait above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task.

True to his word,the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars worth of paintings. And then the old man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given. During the days and weeks that followed, the man learned that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart.

As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease his grief, as he realized that, although his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because of those he had touched. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the priceless pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received. The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away.

The art world was in anticipation, since, with the old man's passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas Day, the way he had received his greatest gift. The day finally arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum list... It was the painting of the old man's son.

The auctioneer asked for an opening bid, but the room was silent."Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked.Moments passed as no one spoke. From the back of the room came, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget it and get on to the good ones." More voices echoed in agreement. "No, we have to sell this one-first," replied the auctioneer.

"Now who will take the son?" Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. "Will you take $10 for the painting? That's all I have. "Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. After more silence he said, "Going once, going twice... Gone!" The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone shouted, "Now we can get on with it and bid on these treasures!" The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced that the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room.

Then someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a portrait of some old man's son! What about all of the other paintings? There are millions of dollars worth of art work here. We demand an explanation!"

The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son...gets it all."Just as the art collectors discovered on that day...The message is still the same...the love of the Father....a Father whose son gave his life for others...And because of that Father's love...Whoever takes the Son gets it all.

Mistakes are an important part of life..

This is an interesting forward that I read recently.It goes as.....

Rutali married Hitesh this day. At the end of the wedding party,Rutali’s mother gave her a newly opened bank saving passbook with Rs.1000 deposit amount.

Mother said ‘Rutali, take this passbook. Keep it as a record of your marriage life. When there’s something happy and memorable happened in your new life, put some money in. Write down what it’s about next to the line. The more memorable the event is, the more money you can put in.I’ve done the first one for you today. Do the others with Hitesh. When you look back after years, you can know how much happiness you’ve had.’

Rutali shared this with Hitesh when getting home.They both thought it was a great idea and were anxious to know when the second deposit can be made.This was what they did after certain time:

- 7 Feb: Rs.100, birthday celebration for Hitesh after marriage

- 1 Mar: Rs.300, salary raise for Rutali

- 20 Mar: Rs.200, vacation trip to Bali

- 1 Jun: Rs.2000, Hitesh got promoted….. and so on…

However, after years, they started fighting and arguing for trivial things. They didn’t talk much. They regretted that they had married the nastiest people in the world…. no more love…

One day Rutali talked to her Mother:‘Mom, we can’t stand it anymore. We agree to divorce. I can’t imagine how I decided to marry this guy!!!’

Mother said ‘Sure, girl, that’s no big deal. Just do whatever you want if you really can’t stand it. But before that, do one thing first.Remember the saving passbook I gave you on your wedding day? Take out all money and spend it first.You shouldn’t keep any record of such a poor marriage.’

Rutali thought it was true. So she went to the bank, waiting at the queue and planning to cancel the account.While she was waiting, she took a look at the passbook record. She looked, and looked, and looked.Then the memory of all the previous joy and happiness just came up her mind. Her eyes were then filled with tears. She left and went home.

When she was home, she handed the passbook to Hitesh, asked him to spend the money before getting divorce.The next day, Hitesh gave the passbook back to Rutali. She found a new deposit of Rs.5000.And a line next to the record: ‘This is the day I notice how much I’ve loved you thru out all these years. How much happiness you’ve brought me.’

They hugged and cried, putting the passbook back to the safe.Do you know how much money they had saved when they retired? I did not ask. I believe the money did not matter any more after they had gone thru all the good years in their life.

“When you fall, in any way, Don’t see the place where you fell, instead see the place from where you slipped.Life is about correcting mistakes.”