Opinion

Take my son

FROM THE STANDS - Domini M. Torrevillas -

April 6, 2004 | 12:00am

Being spread around by email is a touching story that should set the mood for our observance of Holy Week. The story is entitled, "Take My Son." I’ve abbreviated the story for space constraints.

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 solider. 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.

The father thanked the young man who did not accept any payment. "I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift," he told the father.

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. He 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 Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids."

But the auctioneer continued, "The son! The son! Who will 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. He bid $10 for the painting. Since no one else made a bid, the auctioneer laid down his gavel, and said the auction was over.

He said, "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!"

The story ends with the unknown writer giving this message: "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. For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten son, whosoever believeth, shall have eternal life… That’s love."

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