After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping alive the
spark of love. A little while ago I started to go out with another woman. It
was really my wife's idea. "I know that you love her," she said one day,
taking me by surprise. "But I love YOU," I protested. "I know, but you also
love her."

The other woman that my wife wanted me to go out with was my mother, who has
been a widow for 19 years. 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 okay ?" 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 nice to spend some time with you," I
responded.

"Just the two of us ?" She thought about it for a moment, 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 entrees, I lifted my eyes an d 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 my mother and I had dined.  An attached note read: "Son,
I paid this bill in advance.  I was almost sure that I couldn't 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."

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."

Pass this along to all the "mothers" in your life.

This was forwarded to us in our email - we do not know who wrote it, but if you do
then please email us so we can give credit where credit is due.  Thank you.