Wednesday, December 28, 2016

December 26, 2016


 Merry Christmas everyone! 

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this wonderful holiday time! 
I’m really grateful for this time of year when everyone is focusing on "the reason for the season" 

We had a good week we gave some Christmas cards to squirrels, saw some ducks, and got a little snow, we also got to go to the temple for zone conference it was so nice to be able to spend time in that peaceful setting. 

I’m grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ I'm grateful for its simplicity and how much strength it can give us to deal with anything we are struggling with. 

The message is simple the invitation is too, rely on Him that is the reason for the season, every season. 

Key Principle:
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art: everything from Picasso to Raphael. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father grieved deeply for his only son. 
About a month later, 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. He died instantly. He often talked about you and your love for art."
The young man held out the package and said, "I know this isn't much. I'm not a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package and gazed at a portrait of his son. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured his son in the painting. The father hung the portrait over his mantle. When visitors came to his home, he always drew attention to the portrait of his son before he showed them any other great works. 
When the father died, his paintings were to be auctioned. Many influential people gathered, excited about the opportunity to purchase them. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel and asked for someone to start the bidding. The crowd scoffed and demanded the Van Goghs and the Rembrandts. But the auctioneer persisted. "Who will start the bidding? $200? $100?" The crowd again insisted on seeing the famous paintings. Still the auctioneer solicited, "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"
Finally a voice said, "I'll give $10 for the painting." The longtime gardener of the father was poor and couldn't afford anything more. While the auctioneer continued to pursue a higher bid, the crowd became angry. The auctioneer pounded the gavel and sold the painting for $10 to the gardener.
An eager buyer from the second row bellowed, "Finally, on with the auction." But the auctioneer explained, "I'm sorry, the auction is over. 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."
Love you all have a very merry Christmas! 

   XOXO
-Sister Sophie Brooks

19 Ackley Place #2 

Jamaica Plain MA 02130

No comments:

Post a Comment