Give time to our family   28 comments

Posted at 10:50 pm in Moral stories

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.”

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Written by Stephen on October 14th, 2008

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28 Responses to: Give time to our family

  1. Mohammad_aljbory -- 2 Dec 08 at 8:02 am

     

    thank you…thank you…thank you my dear from now on i’m fan of you…to tell the truth the tears was falling from my eyes before finishing this blog…i realized i did many mistakes with my family especially with my mom…God bless you and keep going…congratulation

  2. Stephen -- 2 Dec 08 at 3:08 pm

     

    Hi Mohammad :)

    I am very glad you find this blog useful. Take care!

  3. shalom -- 23 Jul 09 at 10:22 pm

     

    oh, it’s a nice story… i like it!

    it’s very inspiring…

    ^.^

  4. sandip joshi -- 13 Sep 09 at 6:55 am

     

    I could not hold back my tears. It is inspiring story.

  5. Rosa -- 24 Oct 09 at 1:57 am

     

    I wept :)
    I miss home and my mom. I’m going through a major exam in a foreign country, and I’ll do my best to go home soon.
    And I’ll dine with my mother everyday :)
    Thank you so much.

  6. Leena -- 30 Oct 09 at 7:47 am

     

    Thanks to your wife who advised you to go with your mother. All the wives must be like yours and all sons must be the same too. Thia what LIFE & LOVE. Both we can experience only when we live. Your advice to spend time with the family is Superb. Hats off to u and tears rolling up

  7. Leena -- 30 Oct 09 at 8:20 am

     

    HEART MELTING STORY. I LOVE MY MOM. I PLAN TO SPEND TIME WITH MY MOM

  8. iamallen -- 5 Nov 09 at 11:11 am

     

    I can’t help my tears from falling…such a nice and inspiring story…God bless… ;-)

  9. jules -- 20 Dec 09 at 4:45 am

     

    very nice story, hopefully i can do the same..hopefully my mom will forgive me on what i did to her.I LOVE YOU MOM.

  10. dawood pasha -- 22 Dec 09 at 5:25 am

     

    really a touching story, definately i am planning to take my mother for dinner

  11. Jeff -- 29 Dec 09 at 1:41 am

     

    Very touching. I love you Mum.

  12. Arifa -- 5 Jan 10 at 8:21 am

     

    Really touched d heart n feeling so good after reading dis story, evey 1 in dis world will not b like those characters as mentioned in d story but shld try 2 make happy all n most importantly shld spend more time with family n BOYS SHLD NOT FORGET THIER MOMS AFTER D MARRIAGE

  13. Raja -- 15 Jan 10 at 9:11 pm

     

    It is a really touching story, I am really impressed with that wife.

  14. azmanctm -- 17 Jan 10 at 9:27 pm

     

    This is the second time that I am reading this story. Still brings tears into my eyes.
    Keep up the good work – this is story telling at its best.

  15. bala -- 3 Feb 10 at 4:15 am

     

    i am reading this for the first time. it is so touching and brings tears in to my eyes.

  16. Purva -- 6 Feb 10 at 10:51 am

     

    Very emotional story.Sometimes, we dont give importance to someone who is really very special, and when we realize it sometimes it is too late.

  17. TySawn -- 11 Mar 10 at 10:51 pm

     

    As they say, “You never know what one’s love is like until its gone”. Thank you for the heartfelt story. I appreciate it 100%. P.S. Thank you Omma for being there when I needed you. XOXO you

  18. SHONAL -- 12 Apr 10 at 9:54 am

     

    I love this story a lot… Really heart melting story. Me too believe that family is more important than other selfish and egoistic desires… Thank, really useful blog.

  19. yousuf -- 15 Apr 10 at 3:44 am

     

    no words to say ………………..really heart touching story,i cn’t stop thinking….

  20. MYOVELA JULIUS -- 22 Apr 10 at 9:12 am

     

    ooh my lord…!now my tears is on the ground…..real it is heartfelt story………………..lv u my mum

  21. Rina -- 21 May 10 at 5:04 am

     

    a very heart touching story………too emotional……..love u my darling mom

  22. Kiran -- 23 May 10 at 6:40 am

     

    Really very nice and emotional story. I love my mom a lot.

  23. Sanju -- 12 Jun 10 at 12:54 pm

     

    Very Superb Story Sir.. :)
    Touched My heart Completly.. Even My Eyes Are Wet Now.. :)

  24. Gopi -- 17 Jul 10 at 1:33 am

     

    Lovely story.I inspired a lot

  25. Kentucky Reignman -- 27 Jul 10 at 2:12 pm

     

    man that was awesome, happy and sad at the same time…whew

  26. harprit -- 30 Jul 10 at 3:27 am

     

    it was most touchng story it bought tears in my eyes……

  27. harprit -- 30 Jul 10 at 3:28 am

     

    heart touching story…….

  28. Dipti -- 25 Aug 10 at 3:58 am

     

    touching story indeed…
    but is very real in today’s context, we have become so busy in our hassled lives that we dnt even get enough or no time for our near and dear ones..

    the need of the hour says that we must act or else we’ll be victims of the same some day…

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