Womenality

This is one of the heartfelt emails I received. I’m a  woman and I’m hoping to be a mother someday. I truly feel for this email as I love my mom very much. This might be a true story for some…

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 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 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. 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 Extra-ordinary, 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.

‘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 Time 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, My 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.’

Pass This Along To Everyone

With An Aging Parent,
To A Child,
To An Adult,
To Anyone With A Parent,

And Most Importantly,
To Someone You Truly Love

I think I received this email last year but I decided to keep a copy of it somewhere in my local drive. Today, while cleaning up some files, I discovered this again. Hence, I think that this is the best time for me to have this story posted in my blog. For those who haven’t read this story, this will surely give you great thoughts to ponder.

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things “in order,” she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

“There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly.

“What’s that?” came the Pastor’s reply.

“This is very important,” the young woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.”

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the young woman asked.

“Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. “My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming…like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful , and with substance!’

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder “What’s with the fork?” Then I want you to tell them: “Keep your fork the best is yet to come”

The Pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than most. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman’s casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, “What’s with the fork?” And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also t old them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. 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.

Show your friends how much you care. Remember to always be there for them, even when you need them more. For you never know when it may be their time to “Keep your fork.”

Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share.
Being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility.

Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEN D even if it means sending back to the person who sent it to you.

And keep your fork.