"I want this pearl.How much is it?"
"Well," the seller says, "it's very expensive."
"But, how much?" we ask.
"Well, a very large amount."
"Do you think I could buy it?"
"Oh, of course, everyone can buy it."
"But, didn't you say it was very expensive?"
"Yes."
"Well, how much is it?"
"Everything you have," says the seller.
We make up our minds. "All right, I'll buy it," we say.
"Well, what do you have?" he wants to know.
"Let's write it down."
"Well, I have ten thousand dollars in the bank."
"Good--ten thousand dollars. What else?"
"That's all I have."
"Nothing more?"
"Well, I have a few dollars here in my pocket."
"How much?"
We start digging.
"Well, let's see--thirty, forty, sixty, sixty-seven dollars."
"That's fine. What else do you have?"
"Well, nothing. That's all."
"Where do you live?" He's still probing.
"In my house. Yes, I have a house."
"The house, too, then." He writes that down.
"You mean I have to live in my camper?"
"You have a camper? That, too. What else?"
"I'll have to sleep in my car!"
"You have a car?"
"Two of them."
"Both become mine, both cars. What else?"
"Well, you already have my money, my house, my camper, my cars.
What more do you want?"
"Are you alone in this world?"
"No, I have a wife and two children..."
"Oh, yes, your wife and children, too. What else?"
"I have nothing left!I am all alone now."
Suddenly the seller exclaims, "Oh, I almost forgot!
You yourself, too!
Everything becomes mine--wife, children, house, money, cars-
-and you too."
Then he goes on.
"Now listen--I will allow you to use all these things for the
time being.
But don't forget that they are mine, just as you are.
And whenever I need any of them you must give them up, because
now I am the owner."
[i]-taken from Improving Your Serve by Charles R. Swindol, page 35