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Give time to our family

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.”

{ 343 comments… add one }
  • Sam Victor February 10, 2023, 2:45 am

    Touching one and it reminds each one of us every day that our family is behind in all what we do professionally and personally. So, take timeout to your family, once time lost then there is no point looking back and feeling bad for it. Thanks, Stephen, for the wonderful share and making a reminder for each one of us.

  • Asha February 10, 2023, 2:21 am

    This story is so true, Life is unpredictable todays movements will be tomorrows memories. We should Respect, care and give time to family and ourselves.
    Thank you team for this wonderful Friday story.

  • Amen November 4, 2022, 10:04 am

    This story is heart touching. It inspired me. Thank you for posting it, God bless you.

  • Elizabeth.Maki May 17, 2022, 10:42 pm

    Very touching… Always Spend quality time with your loved ones.

  • Damilola August 20, 2021, 10:09 pm

    Hmmm….so inspiring! Never take things for granted!

  • Stephen Berkhouse May 10, 2020, 7:11 am

    This is a great story. As we share the same name, sorry for your loss. This story touched me. I get to see my mom often and spend time with her. A lot of similarities from this story though. My mom is a widow of 19 years as of July this year. Today is Mother’s Day and I have already plan to visit mom today after church. I’m a preacher and after reading your story I plan to share it in my message this morning thanks for sharing it with us. God bless you

  • Juvie Dianne Casinto November 26, 2019, 11:04 pm

    Love your parents the way you love your wife before its too late.

  • Teja August 25, 2019, 4:47 am

    This is very helpful to my reflection

  • Neha June 6, 2019, 11:03 am

    Nowadays people are busy to fulfill their daily need. They are so busy that they don’t even realize that the life is all to laugh, Enjoy and make memories with your loved one. I leant form my life that as long as we are alive problems will remains the same but its up to us that we will focus on only problems or facing problems and live your life with with your family or your loved ones and making memories.

  • Lynett June 9, 2017, 1:49 am

    It is a wonderful story .

  • Vishnu Dutt Sharma May 16, 2017, 9:46 am

    Very heart touching story.

  • Vishnu Dutt Sharma May 16, 2017, 9:45 am

    It is greatly heart touching fact that most of us must realize the importance of always being with our mother and father. Tears begin to shed while reading the climax of this event. Thanks and congratulations to the writer. There is nothing more precious than our parents in this world.

  • chandrakant bordekar April 27, 2017, 2:10 am

    good stories.

  • Md. Sarfuddin April 1, 2017, 10:55 pm

    It’s really nice story I didn’t study such type of story in my whole. It’s taught me that nothing is important in my life than my family.
    Thanks a lots for writing such inspiration story

  • Nainesh Nandu March 26, 2017, 4:17 am

    Stephen,
    I happened to read yr motivational and inspiring stories.
    Please accept my humble greetings and a big salute to you.
    Stay blessed.
    God is great.

  • Arifa March 23, 2017, 1:42 am

    Its very good stories

  • Selina January 23, 2017, 4:30 pm

    The blog is awsam. .I love this…before finishing blog tears was in my eyes. ..in small story thr is a big truth of life….God bless u

  • Call Wafula December 31, 2016, 9:20 am

    Pretty inspiring and a very ideal way of expressing creativity by putting real life into such few words, bingo!

  • Harsha m minche December 10, 2016, 5:08 am

    It’s really a heart touching story .I was reading this story with my daughter who is just 10 years old even she too liked it

  • Gunasekar October 23, 2016, 2:08 pm

    Everyone loves there mom but we forgot to show them our love often or at the time they need. This story is awesome can’t stop my tears at the end. Thank you so much for such a good story I would love to read this often.

  • Wasim khan October 7, 2016, 1:55 pm

    Hi dear after very long time i have seen very heart touching story after read this my tears has fallen because i am very emotional person.

    now i just would like to say about my mom she is never told me when she is suffering from any kind of situation.she always told me that she is fine i realize this thing when i left the home for the job…….

    this is amazing story thank you.

  • jfr ando July 21, 2016, 11:07 pm

    i am very touch this story…
    i miss our home especially my family..

  • Priya Das June 11, 2016, 4:10 am

    Its a very touchy & inspiring story….”Mom, u r the best mom in this world..luv u alot..Thanku mumma for all ur efforts 🙂

  • Ezra Christian May 24, 2016, 6:32 am

    Learnt that Nothing is more important than the Life i.e., Family! Thank you.

  • harshitha March 25, 2016, 6:14 am

    Really it’s a heartfelt story….after this blog i can’t control my tears from falling….keep writing and publish such type of stories

  • Kailash March 25, 2016, 3:28 am

    Heart touching story

  • vishal kumar arya March 21, 2016, 12:37 pm

    this story is really heart touching,
    I am so emotional after read it…..

  • Shreyansh H Joshi October 27, 2015, 4:05 pm

    Due to my repeated failures in studies and not finding a proper job i am very much tensioned..and got a bad habit of tobacco..i am very much tensioned for my family too..i love them the most..i could not control my bad behaviour bt wen i become alone i regret it very badly and cant study..plz help me if anyone can..i dont want to loose my family bcoz of my bad behaviour..

    • Bill December 18, 2019, 2:44 am

      Don’t beat yourself up. Try to be better a little but at a time. Little steps lead to big things.

  • Suhita September 24, 2015, 2:00 pm

    Really very touching story.
    I LOVE YOU MAA & BAPI. I MISS YOU.

  • Francis September 6, 2015, 10:44 am

    Sometimes we need a message like this to appreciate the great deed of a mother. My mother is 80 years of age and an angel. I dont talk very much with her as I dont find time and the patience to listen to her quiet chatter. But deep down in my heart my love flows for her. By nature I am a very quiet and a private person to all including to my mother. But it is time to tell her that she is the world to me and nothing nothing matters more to me than to tell her that,. I love you mum.

  • Kathy September 5, 2015, 5:28 am

    This is not only an inspiring story but also a great reminder to those who have no time to their parents especially their mother in particular. It touches the inner most cord in my heart. It also reminds me of my mom who had passed away 6 years ago. Congratulations for this wonderful story. Keep up the good work. You make a difference in this world. God bless you!

  • Herbert Willkomm August 31, 2015, 9:47 am

    What a wonderful and heart-melting story. I really love my mom and i always wanted to treat her to a wonderful restaurant but i dont have enough budget for that. how sad.

  • ansari aarzoo August 23, 2015, 9:59 am

    Its a lovely and heart touching story ..it also inspires me.

  • rahul August 6, 2015, 4:28 pm

    lovely

  • jasmeen bano August 1, 2015, 10:10 am

    Very true in the daily schedule we forgot our parents, those gave us world.
    We should not forgot our parents when they feel someone should be mine in my life.

  • Mark July 1, 2015, 4:57 am

    wow it is so nice story.. It produce tears in my eyes>.

  • phariz June 30, 2015, 11:26 pm

    It good to take sometym to appropriate our parents for bringing up

  • CLAIRE June 17, 2015, 1:53 am

    IM SO TOUCH 🙁
    I SO MISS MY FAMILY,MY KUYA WHO REALLY FAR FROM US..

  • alina tandan May 28, 2015, 11:01 pm

    Wow! What a inspirational story. I can’t stop my tears………. I am just. Crying now. Well gurav I am also away from my family. My family was in India and I am in Germany. Well I was belong to Germany and my parents belong to India……… I miss you very much mom and dad…. gurav I love you baby. My sweet heart. Can we met… I amm ready in room no in 401 with my nightyll

  • Bisman May 6, 2015, 11:22 pm

    It’s a touching story that I sometimes forget, this story makes me remember my family tx alot

  • Oki ata April 25, 2015, 11:11 pm

    Very touching story as a fatherless who I lost my beloved dad two years ago after a short period illness.

    Thank you many times

  • Rakesh March 23, 2015, 6:54 am

    This is a beautiful story. It told the importance of family.

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