Jack and Mary had been married for 23 years. They had four children, and Mary dedicated every moment to taking care of them. Over the years, life had fallen into a routine, and that once-burning spark between them had faded.
Every day looked the same. Jack would return from work, drop onto the couch, and watch TV until dinner was ready. Meanwhile, Mary spent the entire day cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, and taking care of the kids. She made sure their youngest was cared for and helped the older ones with their schoolwork. By the time she finally had a moment to herself, it was late at night.
She would sit alone and watch romantic movies, longing for the excitement she once felt with Jack. It had been years since they had gone on a date, and deep down, she missed the connection they once shared. But when she looked at herself in the mirror, disappointment filled her heart.
She no longer resembled the happy, glowing bride in her wedding photo. Instead, she saw a tired, overworked woman with lines of exhaustion etched across her face. Her hair, once shiny and full of life, was now dull and tied back in a messy bun. She barely recognized herself.
That night, she made a decision—she would change things. She wouldn’t wait for Jack to take the first step. She would ask him on a date herself.
The next evening, when Jack came home, Mary mustered all her courage. As they sat at the dinner table, she took a deep breath and said, “Jack, I was thinking… maybe we could go on a date? There’s a new place downtown I heard about. We could check it out together.”
Jack looked up, surprised. “A date? What for? Is today a special occasion or something?”
Mary smiled softly. “We don’t need a special occasion. We can make any day special, just the two of us.”
Instead of appreciating her words, Jack frowned and let out a sigh of frustration. “Look at you, Mary,” he said bluntly. “You look terrible. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
Mary’s heart dropped. She had expected hesitation, maybe even an excuse, but she had not expected cruelty.
“I just finished cleaning the house, Jack. That’s why I look like this,” she explained, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jack shook his head. “It’s not just today, Mary. You look like this every day. You used to take care of yourself, wear nice clothes, fix your hair. Now… you’ve let yourself go.”
Tears welled up in Mary’s eyes. She looked at Jack, searching for a hint of the man she had married. But his next words shattered her completely.
“Even when you cry, you don’t look good. Do you want the truth? I’m ashamed of you. I can’t be seen with you like this.”
And with that, he grabbed his coat and walked out the door, leaving Mary alone with her pain.
Jack didn’t go far. He headed straight to his best friend Samuel’s house and knocked on the door. When Samuel opened it, Jack greeted him with a familiar grin. “Hey, Sam! Feel like grabbing a beer at the bar?”
But to Jack’s surprise, Samuel shook his head. “Sorry, mate. I can’t tonight. I’m taking my wife on a date.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “A date? What’s the occasion?”
“No occasion,” Samuel said with a shrug. “I just want to spend time with her.”
Just then, Samuel’s wife appeared at the top of the stairs, beaming with happiness. She was wearing a beautiful dress and held a bouquet of flowers in her arms.
“Sam, I just found these flowers in our room! Did you put them there?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with joy.
Samuel grinned. “Yep. And there’s one more surprise.” He reached behind the front door and pulled out a bag, handing it to her.
Curious, she opened it. Inside was a stunning evening dress. Her smile widened as she looked up at her husband with adoration. “Oh, Sam! This is beautiful! You are the best husband. I’ll change quickly so I can wear this tonight.”
Jack watched in silence, stunned by what he was seeing. Samuel and his wife were happy. They looked in love. He could see the excitement in her eyes and the way she smiled at her husband. And in that moment, Jack realized something—Mary didn’t smile like that anymore. She hadn’t in years.
“Your wife is beautiful,” Jack finally said. “She looks so happy. My wife… she always looks miserable.”
Samuel turned to him with a knowing look. “When was the last time you asked Mary on a date?”
Jack hesitated. “I don’t know… maybe two years ago?”
Samuel scoffed, shaking his head. “Two years?! And you’re wondering why she doesn’t smile?” He playfully smacked Jack’s arm.
Jack remained silent, guilt creeping into his chest.
Samuel continued, his voice softer now. “Listen, mate. My wife is the light of our home. I make sure she knows that. I don’t wait for a special occasion to take her out. I make every day special for her because she deserves it. And you know what? She feels loved. That’s why she smiles.”
Jack let the words sink in. Suddenly, he saw everything clearly. The problem wasn’t Mary—it was him. He had taken her for granted, neglected her, made her feel unworthy of love.
He swallowed hard and nodded. “You’re right, Sam. I’ve been a fool.”
Samuel clapped him on the back. “It’s not too late to fix things, mate. Go home. Make things right.”
And so, Jack did just that.
When he stepped inside his house, Mary was sitting at the kitchen table, her eyes still red from crying. Without a word, Jack walked over and placed a small gift box in front of her.
“I was cruel to you earlier,” he admitted. “I hurt you, and I regret it. I’m sorry, Mary. You didn’t deserve that.”
She hesitated before opening the box. Inside was a delicate silver necklace.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
Jack reached for her hand. “Tomorrow night… will you go on a date with me? I booked us a table at that place downtown.”
For a moment, Mary just stared at him. Then, slowly, her lips curled into a smile—the same radiant smile she used to give him years ago.
“I’d love to,” she said softly.
The next day, Mary stood in front of the mirror, seeing herself through new eyes. She put on a beautiful dress, fixed her hair, and when Jack saw her, his breath caught in his throat. She looked stunning.
But more than that—she was happy. And so was he.
From that day on, Jack and Mary made a promise to each other. They wouldn’t wait for special occasions. They would make every day special. And slowly, they rekindled the love that had once brought them together.
Lesson from this story:
You don’t need a special day to show love and appreciation. Every day can be special if you choose to make it that way. Don’t take your loved ones for granted—show them that they matter, that they are cherished. Love isn’t about grand gestures on rare occasions; it’s about the little moments, the everyday kindness, and the effort you put into making each other feel valued.
