There was once a wealthy old man who had a deep passion for art.
Together with his only Son, who shared his passion for these breathtaking paintings, they traveled around the world to collect the finest and rarest works of art.
Priceless works by Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Raphael and many other legendary artists adorned the walls of the family mansion.
The cold winter was approaching when the Vietnam war broke out.
The Son was summoned to serve his country.
He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier.
The Father was duly notified.
Devastated and stricken with shock, the Father grieved inconsolably for his beloved Son.
Distraught and lonely, the Father faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness.
The joy of the season, a special time that he and his Son had always looked forward to, would visit his house no longer.
On Christmas morning, there was a knock on the mansion door.
As the Father opened the door, he was greeted by a young soldier with a large package in his hands.
The young man said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier whom your Son gave his life for. He was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart. He died instantly."
"He talked about you often, and your love for art."
The soldier held out the package.
"I'm not a great artist, but I would very much like you to have this."
The Father unwrapped the package.
It was a painting of his Son.
He could not help but stare in awe at the way the soldier had skilfully captured the personality of his Son with his paint brush in such striking details.
The Father was deeply moved by the painting.
His eyes were noticeably welling up with sad tears.
Overwhelmed with emotion, he thanked the soldier gratefully and offered to pay him for the picture.
"Oh no sir, I could never repay what your Son did for me. Please accept this as a humble gift from me."
The Father hung the portrait of his Son over the fireplace.
He spent the entire Christmas season, warming himself by the fire and gazing at the precious gift the soldier had given him.
The painting of his Son soon became his most prized possession.
He told his neighbours it was the greatest gift he had ever received.
Spring came ...
The Father, who had been nursing a broken-heart since the passing of his Son, became very sick and died soon after.
The art world was gripped with anticipation.
With the Collector's passing, and no heir to his name and fortune, those paintings would be sold at an auction.
In accordance with the last will and testament of the wealthy old man, all his art collection shall be auctioned on Christmas Day, the day he received his greatest gift of his life.
Christmas Day soon arrived ...
Art collectors from around the world gathered at the mansion to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings they have ever seen.
On the platform stood the solemn 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?"
Silence fell among the crowd of bidders.
Minutes passed. No one spoke.
Then a voice from the audience shouted,
"We want to see the famous paintings.
Skip this one and let's get on to the good stuff."
More voices echoed in agreement.
The auctioneer persisted.
"No, this one is going first. Who will take the Son?
Will someone bid for this painting? $100? $200?"
Another impatient voice arose from the audience.
"We didn't come here to see that painting.
"We didn't come here to see that painting.
We came to see the Van Gogh's and the Rembrandts.
Get on with the real bids!"
The auctioneer ignored the outburst and continued.
"The painting of the Son. Who will take the Son?
Anybody? Anybody for the Son?"
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room.
It was the long-time gardener of the man and his Son.
He said,
"I knew the boy. I'd like to keep the painting, if I may.
Will you take $10 for it? That is all I have."
"We have $10," said the auctioneer.
"Now who will bid $20?"
Someone shouted from the floor,
"Now who will bid $20?"
Someone shouted from the floor,
"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters now."
"Won't anyone bid $20?" asked the auctioneer again.
The crowd was becoming rowdy.
They didn't want the picture of the Son.
They wanted the more worthy investments
for their collections.
Finally, the auctioneer announced,
"Going once ... twice ...
SOLD to that gentleman at the
back of the room for $10!"
The gavel fell.
Impatient cheers and sighs of boredom
filled the room.
filled the room.
A man sitting on the second row raised his voice,
"Now let's get on with the collection!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel.
"I'm sorry, but the auction is over."
A hush of disbelief filled the air.
A hush of disbelief filled the air.
A restless bidder from the floor, who has been observing the auction with mounting skepticism, started waving his fist aggressively in the air.
He shouted angrily,
"What do you mean it's over? What about the paintings? There are millions of dollars worth of art in this room. I demand that you explain what is going on here!"
"I am sorry," said the auctioneer.
"When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told that only the painting of the Son would be auctioned. Whoever cared enough to buy that painting would inherit the ENTIRE estate, including the entire collection of paintings."
Loud gasps of disbelief echoed through the mansion.
A secret smile appeared on the auctioneer's face.
"It's very simple ...
According to the will of the Father,
whosoever takes the Son,
GETS EVERYTHING!!!"
"The Testimony is this :
God has given us eternal life,
and this life has its source in His Son.
Whoever has the Son of God has this life;
whoever does not have the Son of God
does not have life."
1 John 5 : 11-12
a silent thot ...
by lynn phua
acknowledgment : images of christmas trees are by alberto sebastiani
