A Christmas story needs to include elements of gift, love, joy and hope. It is a tale about those who are poor in spirit. It will bring a tear to the eye. Such a story from an unknown author follows:
聽聽聽聽聽 A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works.
聽聽聽聽聽 When war broke out, the son enlisted. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father grieved deeply for his only son.
聽聽聽聽聽 A month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood there with a large package in his hands. 鈥淪ir, you don鈥檛 know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart. He often talked about you and your love for art.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 know this isn鈥檛 much. I鈥檓 not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.鈥� It was a portrait of his son. The soldier had captured the personality of his son. The father was so moved that his eyes welled up with tears.
聽聽聽聽聽 He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 鈥淥h, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It鈥檚 a gift.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them the other great works.
聽聽聽聽聽 The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings with many influential people gathered for an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son.
聽聽聽聽聽 The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 鈥淲e will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?鈥� There was silence.
聽聽聽聽聽 Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 鈥淲e want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 But the auctioneer persisted. 鈥淲ill somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 A voice shouted, 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh鈥檚, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 The auctioneer continued. 鈥淭he son! The son! Who鈥檒l take the son?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 Finally, a voice came from the back of the room. It was the gardener of the man and his son. 鈥淚鈥檒l give $10 for the painting.鈥� Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e have $10, who will bid $20?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淕ive it to him for $10. Let鈥檚 see the masters.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 The crowd was becoming angry. They didn鈥檛 want the picture of the son. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 鈥淕oing once, twice, SOLD for $10!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 A man shouted, 鈥淣ow let鈥檚 get on with the collection!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 鈥淚鈥檓 sorry, the auction is over.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲hat about the paintings?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who takes the son gets everything!鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This Christmas let us accept God鈥檚 Son.
