After 21 years of marriage, my wife surprised me with a request. She wanted me to take another woman out for dinner and a movie. Now, before you jump to conclusions, the other woman she was referring to was my mother. You see, my mother had been a widow for 19 years, and amidst the demands of work and raising our three children, I hadn’t been able to spend much time with her. So, my wife thought it would be lovely if I took my mother out for a night on the town.
That evening, I called my mom and invited her to join me for dinner and a movie. Surprised and concerned, she asked if I was alright. I reassured her that I just wanted to spend some quality time together. She hesitated for a moment and then gladly accepted the invitation.
On Friday after work, I drove over to pick up my mother. I was nervous, but excited for our evening together. When she stepped into the car, I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she looked. Her hair was carefully curled, and she wore the same dress she had worn for her last wedding anniversary. She smiled at me, and her radiance was angelic. She told her friends that she was going out with her son, and they were impressed by our plans.
We chose a cozy restaurant that may not have been the fanciest, but had a warm ambiance. As we sat down, my mother took my arm, displaying grace as if she were the First Lady. As I began to read the menu, I glanced up and caught my mother staring at me with a nostalgic smile.
“When you were small, I used to be the one reading the menu,” she said. I looked into her eyes and replied, “Well, it’s about time you let me return the favor and take care of you.” We shared a tender moment, realizing how the roles had reversed.
Throughout dinner, we engaged in pleasant conversation, catching up on recent events in our lives. Our chat was nothing extraordinary, but it felt so special to connect. We were so engrossed in our conversation that we completely forgot about the movie we had planned to watch.
As I dropped her off at her house later that night, she turned to me and said, “I would love to go out with you again, but next time, let me be the one to treat you.” I agreed wholeheartedly, touched by the warmth of our evening.
When I arrived home, my wife asked how our dinner date went. I couldn’t help but smile as I replied, “It was beyond my expectations. It was a beautiful evening.” Little did I know that just a few days later, my mother would pass away from a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly, without warning.
Some time later, I received an envelope in the mail. Inside was a copy of the restaurant receipt from that memorable night with my mother. There was a note attached that read: “I paid this bill in advance. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to join you that night, but I wanted to make sure that both of you were taken care of. You’ll never know just how much that night meant to me.”
At that moment, I realized the significance of saying “I love you” and spending quality time with our loved ones. Nothing in life is more important than our family.
