Four brothers left home for college,
and they became successful doctors
and lawyers and prospered. Some
years later, they chatted after
having dinner together. They
discussed the gifts that they were
able to give to their elderly mother,
who lived far away in another city.
The first said, “I had a big house
built for Mama. The second said, “I
had a hundred thousand dollar
theater built in the house. The third
said, “I had my Mercedes dealer
deliver her an SL600 with a
chauffeur. The fourth said, “Listen to
this. You know how Mama loved
reading the Bible and you know she
can’t read it anymore because she
can’t see very well. I met this monk
who told me about a parrot that can
recite the entire Bible. It took 20
monks 12 years to teach him. I had
to pledge them $100,000 a year for
20 years to the church, but it was
worth it. Mama just has to name the
chapter and verse and the parrot
will recite it.” The other brothers
were impressed.
After the holidays Mama sent out
her Thank You notes. She wrote:
Dear Milton, the house you built is
so huge. I live in only one room, but
I have to clean the whole house.
Thanks anyway.
Dear Mike, you gave me an
expensive theater with Dolby
sound, it could hold 50 people, but
all my friends are dead, I’ve lost my
hearing and I’m nearly blind. I’ll
never use it. But thank you for the
gesture just the same.
Dear Marvin, I am too old to travel. I
stay home, I have my groceries
delivered, so I never use the
Mercedes … and the driver you hired
is a big jerk. But the thought was
good. Thanks.
Dearest Melvin, you were the only
son to have the good sense to give a
little thought to your gift. The
chicken was delicious. Thank you.”