JUST DO IT

"You never know what you have until you lose it" - Anonymous

Just Do It

My wife 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 go out with was my MOTHER. She'd been a widow for 19 years, the demands of my work had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her for night out and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked. She's is the type of woman who suspects that a late call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. “I thought that 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, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. “I told my friends I was going 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 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 staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. “I used to have to read the menu when you were little” she said. “Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favour,” I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation – nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each others' 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.

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 family. Give them the time they deserve, certain things can't be put off till “some other time.”

As the year continues with goals at the forefront of our minds, we should however, not forget to put family into the scheme of things. When all our pursuits fail, when that job goes or that house is no longer there, family will be all we have left.

Let those you love know how you feel about them today. Don't put it off for a later time - who knows if there will ever be a later time? Pick up that phone, make that call, say the words "I LOVE YOU" now that you still have the time.