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 said, "You remember how mom enjoys reading the Bible. Now she can't see very well, so 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 said, "the house you built is so huge. I live in only one room, but I have to clean the whole house."

"Gerald," she said, "I'm too old to travel so I stay most of the time at home. I rarely use the Mercedes and that driver is so rude! He's a pain!"

"And my dearest Donald," she said, "the chicken was delicious."