Here’s a touching story about love, family, and cherishing time with those who matter most.

After 21 years of marriage, my wife suggested I take another woman—my mother—out for dinner. She had been widowed for 19 years, and life’s demands left little time for visits.

When I invited her, she was surprised but excited. That Friday, she dressed up beautifully, and we shared a cozy dinner, reminiscing about life. She smiled, saying, “I used to read the menu for you; now you’re doing it for me.” We missed the movie but promised another outing.

Days later, my mother passed away suddenly. Later, I found a note with a prepaid restaurant receipt: “You’ll never know what that night meant to me. I love you, son.”

Cherish your loved ones today.