A DATE

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 sur prise invitation is a sign of bad news.


"I thought that it would be pleasant to be 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 t hat 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. 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 did 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 God and your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time."


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Pass this along to everyone with an aging parent, to a child, to an adult, to anyone with a parent. Here's hoping today is better than yesterday and tomorrow.

Unconditional Love - Motivating Story

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco. "Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me." "Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him." "There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us." "I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live." "No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us." "Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own." At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. 

A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg. The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are. Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!! There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart You don't know how it happens Or when it gets started But you know the special lift It always brings And you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift! Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Beautiful Inspiring Story: Mother's Love

 A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen 

one evening while she was fixing supper, and 

handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. 

After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, 

and this is what it said: 

For cutting the grass: $5.00 

For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00 

For going to the store for you: $.50 

Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25 

Taking out the garbage: $1.00 

For getting a good report card: $5.00 

For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00 

Total owed: $14.75 

Well, his mother looked at him standing there,and

 the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind.

She picked up the pen, turned over the paper
he'd written on, and this is what she wrote: 

For the nine months I carried you

 while you were growing inside me: 

No Charge 

For all the nights that I've sat up with you 

 doctored and prayed for you: 

No Charge 

For all the trying times, and all the tears that

  you've caused through the years: 

No Charge 

For all the nights that were filled with dread,

 and for the worries I knew were ahead: 

No Charge 

For the toys, food, clothes, and

even wiping your nose: 

No Charge 

Son, when you add it up,

 the cost of my love is: 

No Charge. 

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written,

there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked 

 straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you."

And then he took the pen and in great big letters

he wrote: "PAID IN FULL". 

Lesson from the Above Inspiring Story:

1) You will never know how much your parents 

 worth till you become a Parent 

2) Be a giver not an asker, especially with your parents.

 there is a lot to give, besides money.

Advice: IF your mom is alive and close  to you, give her

 a big kiss and ask her for forgiveness. If she is far away

call her. if she passed away, pray for her.