The Story: color="#333333" face="Verdana" size="1">
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 more than
me and you should spend some time with her.
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 be with you," I responded,
"Just the two of us." She thought about it for a moment, and color="#333333" face="Verdana" size="1"> 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 very impressed,
"she said, as she got into the car. size="1"> They can't
wait to hear about our meeting". size="1">
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 face="Verdana" size="1">
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 could not 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, my son."
At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time:
"I LOVE YOU!" color="#333333" face="Verdana" size="1"> and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.
Moral of the Story:
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. face="Verdana" size="1">" color="blue" face="Verdana" size="1">
Pass this along to someone with an aging parent, to a child, to an adult, to anyone
with a parent. Here's hoping today is better than yesterday.
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Your Lord has commanded that you not to worship (anyone) but Him, and that you be
kind to parents. Whether one or both of them reach old age in your life, neither
say to them a word of disrespect or “Uff” or “Ugh”, nor tease them. And speak to
them a generous and gracious word and in terms of honor.
{Al-Isra: 17.23} prefix="o" ?>
