六月の天空

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take anotherwoman out to dinner and a movie. She said I love you but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spendsome time with you.

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was myMOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made itpossible 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 asurprise invitation is a sign of bad news.


"I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some timewith you," I responded. "Just the two of us."


She thought ! about it f or a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."


That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I wasa 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 waswearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her lastwedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was asradiant as an angel's.


"I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, andthey were impressed, "she said, as she got into the car. "Theycan't wait to hear about our meeting".


We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was verynice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the FirstLady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries , Ilifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. Anostalgic 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'slife. 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 doanything for her.


Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of arestaurant receipt from the same place mother and I haddined.


An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for twoplates - one for you and the other for your wife. You willnever know what that night meant for me. I love you, son."


At that moment, I understood the importance of saying intime: "I LOVE YOU!" and to give our loved ones the timethat they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than God and your family. Give them the time they deserve, becausethese things cannot be put off till "some other time."



摘取:網絡流傳知訊