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 entrees, I lifted my eyes and saw
Mother 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. Sometime
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.

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after
you've had a baby... somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother,
'normal' is history.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the
first... somebody doesn't have two or more children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and
delivery... somebody never watched her 'baby' get on the bus for the
first day of kindergarten...... or on a plane headed for military 'boot
camp.'

Somebody said a Mother can stop worrying after her child gets married...
somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to
a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home...
somebody never had grandchildren..

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell
her... somebody isn't a mother.


This isn't just about being a mother; it's about appreciating the people
in your lives while you have them... no matter who that person is!

Watch your thoughts, they become words.
Watch your words, they become actions.
Watch your actions, they become habits.
Watch your habits, they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes... your destiny.

'Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind
of battle'.

THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!!! My mom went home 19 years ago. She was my best friend and I miss her very much. My children were young when she died and I talk about her sometimes so they will have and idea of the amazing wonderful person she was. I hope that they see her in my character traits.

I had the honor of being by my mothers side (along with my other 8 siblings) when she passed. I made a promise to myslef that I would try to at least be 1/2 the mom to my kids that she was to me. I only have 2 kids I didn't try to match her 9.

Thank you soooo much for taking me down memory lane it was a great way to start my day.
May your day be blessed,
Sherrie