Time is Now

The world is full of Sons and Daughters like you and me. I had a marvelous mother who loved me, sacrificed for me and helped me in every way possible. In all of my growing up from childhood through college and eventually marriage, my mother was always at my side.
And when I needed help with my little ones, she was there for me.Today, we buried this wonderful woman. Can you imagine how I felt when I returned from the services and found a poem in her desk drawer written by my mom.

The Time is Now ! ! !

If you are ever going to love,
Love me now while I can know

The sweet and tender feelings which
From true affection flow

Love me now while I am living
Do not wait until I am gone

And then have it chiseled in marble
Sweet words on ice-cold stone

If you have tender thoughts of me
Please let me know now
If you wait until I am sleeping

I won't hear you then
So if you love me even a little bit
Let me know while I am living so that I can treasure it.

Now she is gone and I am sick with guilt because
I never told her what she meant to me.
Worse yet, I did not treat her as she deserved to be.
I found time for everyone and everything
but never made time for her.

It would have been easy to drop in for a cup of tea and a hug
but my friends came first.
Would any of them have done for me
what my mother did, I know the answer.

When I called mom on the phone,
I was always in a hurry.
I feel ashamed when I think of the times I cut her off.
I remember too, the times I could have included her and didn't.

Our children loved Grandma from the times they were babies.
They often turned to her for comfort and advice.
She understood them.

I realize now that I was too critical,
too short-tempered, too stingy with praise.
Grandma gave them unconditional love.

The world is filled with sons, daughters and a child like me.

I hope they see themselves in this letter and realize from it.

(Anonymous)