Three sons left home, went out on their own and prospered. Getting back

together, they discussed the gifts they were able to give their elderly

mother.

The first said, "I built a big house for our mother." The second said, "I

sent her a Mercedes with a driver." The third smiled and said, "I've got

you, both beat. You remember how Mom enjoyed reading the Bible? And you know

she can't see very well. I sent her a remarkable parrot that recites the

entire Bible. It took elders in the church 12 years to teach him. He's one

of a kind. Mama just has to name the chapter and verse, and the parrot

recites it."

Soon thereafter, Mom sent out her letters of thanks:

"Milton," she wrote one son, "the house you built is so huge. I live in only

one room, but I have to clean the whole house." "Gerald," she wrote to

another, "I am too old to travel. I stay most of the time at home, so I

rarely use the Mercedes. And the driver is so rude!" "Dearest Donald," she

wrote to her third son, "you have the good sense to know what your mother

likes. The chicken was delicious."