A date to remember

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 w anted 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 sur prise invitation is a sign of bad news.



"I thought that it would be pleasant to be 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 t hat 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. 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 did 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 God and your family. Give them the

time they deserve, because these things cannot be put

off till "some other time."



Pass this along to everyone with an aging parent, to a

child, to an adult, to anyone with a parent. Here's

hoping today is better than yesterday and tomorrow.