The one passion that both the father and son shared was collecting fine art.  Together, they would acquire paintings, sculpture, and other valuable art and the quality and value of their collection was known far and wide.  The collection was something that they both admired and they were proud to display the art throughout their fine home.  But, more importantly, the collecting itself was something that they loved to do together, something they could share as father and son.

During this time, the country had become involved in a war.  One day, the son received his notice that he was being called to serve his country and proudly joined the military.  After a period of time, the father received a letter stating that his son was "missing in action".  He was afraid that he might lose his son and he prayed that God would watch over him.  Then, another letter came, confirming that his son was killed in battle. 

Many months later, while the father was sitting alone amidst the art collection, a knock came at the front door.  The man opened the door and saw a young man in an immaculate military uniform standing there.  The young man introduced himself and explained that he had served with the mans son and was with him when he had died.  The father invited the young man in, led him into the study with the art collection, and listened intently as the young man told him about his son.  At one point, the young man reached into a folder that he was carrying, produced a drawing, and handed it to the father.  He explained that he had made the drawing of the mans son and felt that the father might like to have it.  The drawing was superbly accurate and even captured the subtle smile of the son that the father remembered.  The father proclaimed that it was a masterpiece, ran over to the mantle, cast aside the valuable painting that hung there, and put up the drawing of his son.  The drawing remained there, above the mantle, at the center of the art collection for many years until the father died.

Upon his death, it was announced that there would be an auction to sell off the art collection.  Collectors came from all over the world to bid on the art, and on the day of the auction, the auction house was packed. When the auction began, the auctioneer announced that the auction would closely adhere to the wishes of the old man as written in his 'will'.  The auctioneer proclaimed that the first item up for bid would be the drawing of the mans son, as per the instructions in the 'will'.  No opening amount was specified and nobody bid on the drawing.  The collectors pleaded to put the drawing aside and to continue the auction with the fine art that they had come for.  But, the auctioneer again explained that he was bound by his instructions and again asked for a bid on the drawing. 

A man in the back stood up and said that he had known both the man and his son.  He explained that he was just short of having ten dollars cash in his pocket, but would go ahead and bid ten dollars for the drawing, because it would at least mean something to him.  The auctioneer accepted the bid and asked if there were any more.  When nothing else was bid, he proclaimed that the drawing was sold to the man in the back. 

Then to the astonishment of everyone, the auctioneer proclaimed that the "auction was closed!"  The collectors jumped to their feet and demanded to know what the auctioneer was doing by closing the auction, when they had come from all over the world to bid on the vast collection of art.  When he was able to quiet them down, the auctioneer explained.  Per the instructions in the 'will', the first item up for bid was to be the drawing of the mans son, and whomever bid on and purchased the drawing of the son, would also get the entire collection along with the drawing!