Acentral theme in For One More Day is the concept of mortality. The story reminds readers that we are all living on borrowed time, and that we should never miss an opportunity to let people know how much we love them. The importance of family is also highlighted. Chick’s life seems meaningless when he loses contact with his wife and daughter. He’s unable to feel whole again until he repairs these relationships. The novel also makes an important point about time and perspective. As an adolescent, Chick is unable to appreciate how much his mother loved him due to his age and lack of life experiences. Yet when he becomes an adult and comprehends the situation more clearly during this day, Chick feels gratitude for having such a loving mother.
The close of the book offers readers a lesson on forgiveness. Chick is driven to suicide mainly because he’s unable to forgive himself for past mistakes. After he hears about his father’s sins, Chick realizes that no one is perfect. He forgives himself and those who have wronged him, and moves forward in life. Not only is he able to make peace with his ex-wife, but he also starts meeting his daughter every Saturday morning, catching up on events of the week.
The book’s author, Mitch Albom, has a talent for writing about emotional subjects. As a boy, he dreamed of becoming a professional musician. However, after getting a degree in journalism, he began a career as a freelance sports writer. In 1997, Albom was moved to write a book about the final days he spent with his old college professor before he died of a painful disease. This book, Tuesdays with Morrie, would go on to become the best-selling memoirever published. Many of Albom’s works tug at the heartstrings and help people find ways to deal with loss and grief in positive ways.
