After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman
out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other
woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.”
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who
has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three
children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night
I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. "What’s wrong,
are you well?” she asked.
My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or
a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would
be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded. "Just the two of
us.” She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like
that very much.”
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit
nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to
be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She
had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to
celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was
as radiant as an angel’s. "I told my friends that I was going to go out
with my son, and they were impressed, "she said, as she got into the
car. "They can’t wait to hear about our meeting.”
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and
cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat
down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print.
Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there
staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. "It was I who used to
have to read the menu when you were small,” she said. "Then it’s time
that you relax and let me return the favor,” I responded. During the
dinner, we had an agreeable conversation – nothing extraordinary but
catching up on recent events of each other’s life. We talked so much
that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said,
"I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I
agreed.
"How was your dinner date?” asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered.
A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It
happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her.
Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant
receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note
said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn’t sure that I could be there;
but nevertheless, I paid for two plates – one for you and the other for
your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love
you, son.”
At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I
LOVE YOU” and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing
in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they
deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time.”
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