THE GREATEST PRIZE

An ‘Old Man’ once gave to his three sons three things to carry them through life. To the eldest son he gave gold, and showed him how to multiply it with interest, hoping it would make him happy for the rest of his days. To the middle son he gave all his power, and showed him how to increase it, because he was of strong character and such was his nature; to rule and judge over men. But to his young son he merely gave a ‘Prize’, said to be of untold value to one who could learn to master it, and he hoped that this would make the young man happy. The youngest said to himself ‘I don’t what ‘The Prize’ means exactly or how use it, but I sure wish that I had the money or the power instead.’ So the ‘Old Man’ passed away, and the three sons went their separate ways. The eldest took his wealth, and multiplied it like his father told him, and he became exceedingly rich and wealthy. He lived it up for many long years in riches and glory, but in the end bad decisions and bad partnerships finished him, and he lost all his wealth, and died a poor broken pauper. The middle son took the power he was given by his father, and increased it tenfold, by military and legal means, until he ruled a vast domain as a Lord and a King. But during his splendid rule, he fell ill one day, and died after a brief sickbed of some months. His power and his glory was passed on to others, and his great ambitions of conquest and rule faded away with his passing. Now it was only the youngest son left, and though he lived a poor and hard life, he learnt to live with ‘The Prize’ and learnt how to use to its full. And although it was not worldly power or riches, it was magnificent beyond compare; for it was love, and love conquered all. It conquered all his hardships and strife. It conquered all his loneliness. It conquered his dark side and fears. It gave him hope and light eternal, and he was happy for all of his days, living with the beauty and the love of ‘The Prize.’