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 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 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 and saw Mother 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.
Sometime 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 your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till some “other” time.
Since our birth, our mother has made us happy without expecting anything in return. Ya Allah, make her happy and guard her.
Dear Sara,
Thanks for the wonderful story which reminds us of our responsibilities towards our Parents.
Keep it up!
I have read this particular story before but couldn’t resist reading it again. It brings one back to reality and bring to fore the benefit of having considerate partner. congratulations to the couples, not withstanding relative comfort & advantage, remember to extend similarly to theirs. May Allah’s mercy, benevolence, grace, compassion be on all those who remember their parents and share and care for them.
Subhanallah! This story brought tears to my eyes. I have not felt so emotional in a very long time.
It reminded me of day I lost my beloved mother! It brought back lots of memories flooding in and along came the tears and the things I felt I never got the opportunity of doing for her before Allaah (SWT) called her back to him. May Allaah forgive her shortcomings, grant her Rahma in the grave, make her a companion of Jannah Firdaus. And for us who are still alive, may Allaah make our end that of a fulfilled muslim.
Thanks!
Aameen Summa Aameen
Really It’s a touching story
Sara, this is a repeated story
Repeated story
just amazing story… goose bumps… i like.. thanx….
Assalamalekum Sara This is heart touching story.
Mother is mother. Always love the mother.Her place can not be any.It was very beautiful message. Thank u so much.
Zazak Allah chair.
Nice very nice n heart touching story. I weeped while reading.thank u sara
I can feel my Goosebumps while reading this story.. The man can remember the moments of that night for whole his life spent with his mother. Really heart touching story.. One day everyone has to grow old with time.. So should learn with this story to give time, respect and importance to our parents.. Because they never want anything more than this..
Rightly said Priyanka!
I can feel my goosebumps while reading this story.. The man can remember the moments of that night for whole his life spent with his mother.Really heart touching story.. One day everyone has to grow old with time.. So should learn with this story to give time, respect and importance to our parents.. because they never want anything more than this..
mom u r d bst
you have pointed out an important feature of our society but the solution you mentioned would not
acceptable for our elders……. its a funny solution for them…..they want to see and talk their children and
discuss the matters plus they want to re call their sweet memories and the time they had spent with their
companions in their child hood…..they need good listeners and much more……but never need such
outings like movies and hotelings plus this artificial word “I LOVE YOU” may not satisfy them
This is one of your best!
Thanks Roderick!
There is no substitute of mother
u make us cry… nice … very nice
It is never too late to communicate, and perform a good action. At the dinner theson must be thinking why he did not do this earlier and get the love, for their common satisfaction. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
Very emotional. Parents are very special and I am fortunate they are with me. I just keep finding special ways every day to make them happy in every little thing i do.
Almost got tears
Fantastic! No word to express the outcome after reading the article.Truth nothing but the truth.Mother is mother.No one can replace that place.Her predictions and blessing always echoes in our lives.
THIS IS NOT SUITABLE TO ALL SOCIETIES.
this message is for Zafar Malik: Hi, i think that this is not an old message. maybe u might have read it but there are others out there who still need to read this beautiful message and act before its too late also even the Quran says to read it again and again as one forgets the importance of this message. this is just a reminder
Sara: UR DOING THE BEST JOB. JAZAKALLAH for sending beautiful messages even if again and again as I cry each time and am cleansed and purified.
. 2nd this message is more for the western world not muslim world as we live with our parents. but it is also a big reminder for all including muslim to be kind to parents, to do stuff for them and spend time with them and not
rebuke. them.
regards
Mia KHAN
Great story. Cos of this I’m going to call my Mum to have a nice outing with her.
Thank you.
Tears in my eyes..
So real……. the date with one’s mother after many years can be a very memorable experience!! It’s great to have a mother! Cheers to this wife! she has set a trend of love and understanding!
Sara thank you for your wonderful work! you help humanity to be human on Planet earth!
Thanks Florinda. Nice to know you liked the story.
Please share it with your friends and let them benefit as well.
Dear Sara, This mother story, is very old, I remember of having read it myself about five years ago. Also many of you jokes are old and stale. Pl forgive me for being straight to you. But I feel somebody must tell you. Regards.
Thanks Zafar. We are always open for constructive criticism.
You can have your opinion.
But for most of our Readers, if not all, our stuff is motivating & enjoying.
what i appreciate in this story, the attitude of the wife how pushed his husband to take his responsability
EVERY ONE IS REQUESTED TO LOOK TO THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITIES. THESE TYPES OF STORIES ARE TOUCHED BY HUMAIN NOT MACHINES.
True.
its quite touching story, and a lesson indeed.
Touchy! Without any doubt, as I can’t even imagine a mom or dad living on her/ his own for months and years. It may be increasingly difficult in Westren Societies to live with ones parents and/or visit them on daily basis, we must appreciate daughters in law who remind their husbands of their responsilities towards thier parents and mothers who are strong enough not complaint about such ill treatment by their sons like the one in this story.
It’s really atouchable story first I appreciate the wife who care about her husband and remembering him of his responsibilites towards his mother.
also there is a saying when U treated your parents good your children will reply the favor for you.
Thanks Sara
Rightly said Abdelbagi.
how is this story touchy? the mother lives alone, and she has a son. Are these people Muslims??
??? ????? ????? ? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ??????. ??? ??? ??? ????? ??????? ???????? ? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? !!! …. ??? ??? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ? ?????? ??? ?????? ??????? ? ?????? ??????? ?????? ? ???????. ??????? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ??? ???????? ?? ???? ?????. ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???????
This story is adequate only for the westerns. Such a story is to remind such people to visit their parents, sometimes. It is true that the western people need to be reminded of their parents !!!… Such a story is not touchy for us, the Muslims. As we always and intuitively take care of our parents, site with them as much daily, make sure about their health and psychological situations. Getting our parents satisfaction is a daily ultimate goal and it is a big prize for each one of us. All that is motivated from the teaching of Islam.
WOW,, I Love U MOM
Thats the lessons of islam but we are going soo farr of it…
inchallah we loves our mom and dad befor its late
great job sara
this is the reality, I can feel it as my dearest one left me on December 24, 2011. I have her voice saved her pictures and other belongings with me, but?????
her reqeusts for completing my breakfast, lunch, dinner etc and many other for my own sake are with me, now.
RABBIR HUMHUMA KAMA RABBAYANI SAGHIRA (This is my prayer for her, you too can remember your parents by reciting the same)
yes sara before it is too late.
The story touched my nerves. It made me to cry as I remember my far awy family and my most beloved little one Shimaa…I ish I had the years, energy and space to give them wha I wanted to give..
really nice one. it really shows how mother likes her children when they really taken care by her children
really touching story. nice to read such wonderful things
Thanks sara It is very emotional story
i wish to can do it with my mother when i come back to my country
Nice emotional story.
To notice :
a- The harshness of the occidental world where a son rarely sees his mother, something not tolerant in our oriental and islamic world, to an extent that his mother could not believe that her son invited her !
b- The noble role of the wife who initiated this invitation. She must be very decent and should set the example to many wives to make similar moves with their husbands as this increases their husband’s love to them.
Very True
Well said Walid.
very emmotional story.its realy touch my heart…
DEAR SARA,
ITS VERY HEART TOUCHING STORY THANKS FOR SHARING BUT WHAT WE DO AS YOU KNOW THAT WHERE WE WORK EVERY BOSS WANT THAT HIS EMPLOY WORK ALL DAY AND IF ANYTHING WRONG HAPPEND BEHIND THEM THEY SAY FIRST COMPLETE YOUR WORK THEN GO WHERE YOU WANT TO…
this is such a touching stury
Oh Sara
your collection is unforgettable.
Wonderful story,, I Love U MOM
Please always send such remarkable and memorable stories
Sure, Also if you have any do send at the email [email protected]
Being with your mother is a marvelous story saying in time’ I love you’ and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve is how much important you should think about it,so that it won’t be too late.
I cried when i read it cos i love it.
Such a wonderful story!!!