BEING A MOTHER ...
After 17 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 alone for 20 years, but the
demands of my work and my two boys 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, aren't 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 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. She had curled her hair
and was wearing the dress that she had worn to
celebrate her last birthday on November 19th.
* * *
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 that new white van. "They can't wait to
hear about our date".
* * *
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. G ive 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 learn how to be a mother by
instinct. Somebody never took a three-year-old
shopping.
* * *
Somebody said being a mother is boring..... Somebody
never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a
driver's permit. Somebody said if you're a 'good'
mother, your child will 'turn out good'.... somebody
thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.
* * *
Somebody said you don't need an education to be a
mother.... somebody never helped a fourth grader with
his math.
* * *
Somebody said you can't love the second child as much
as you love the first .... somebody doesn't have two
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.
Pass this along to all the 'mothers' in your life
and to everyone who ever had a mother. This isn't
just about being a mother; it's about appreciating
the people in your life while you have them....no
matter who that person is.
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