Here’s a story I came across online, one that’s been circulating for a few years now. Every time I read it, it brings me a sense of warmth and reminds me of the simple, yet profound moments we can easily overlook.
So, I wanted to share it again, especially for those who might not have seen it before. It’s a story about family, love, and the importance of making time for those who matter most. The author is unknown, but its message is timeless. Take a moment to read it, and let it touch your heart like it did mine.
“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 had been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my 3 children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.
My wife requested that I take another woman out to dinner and a movie after we had been married for 21 years. “I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you, but I still love you,” she said.
My mother, who had been a widow for 19 years, was the other woman my wife wanted me to see, but I was only able to do so seldom due to the obligations of my job and my three kids.
I gave her a call that evening to ask her to join me for supper and a movie.
“What’s up, are you okay?” she inquired. My mother is the kind of woman who believes that an unexpected invitation or late-night call is an indication of trouble.
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.’
Despite its lack of elegance, the restaurant we visited was really pleasant and comfortable. As though she were the First Lady, my mother took my arm. I had to read the menu once we were seated. She could only read huge print with her eyes. I looked up halfway through the entrees to saw Mom seated there, looking at me. She was smiling nostalgically. “When you were little, I had to read the menu,” she remarked. “Then it’s time for you to unwind and allow me to reciprocate,” I said.
We had a pleasant talk over supper, nothing special, just catching up on each other’s recent lives. We missed each other since we spoke so much.
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 where 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.’ “