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

Source: Copied from a Nairalander @Mosakuaw

So touching.

I love you mum.

Hmmm.. This is serious