~Don't Hope, Friend....Decide!~
While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon,
I had one of those life-changing experiences that you hear other people
talk about- the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. This one occurred
a mere two feet away from me.
Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through
the jetway, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He
stopped right next to me to greet his family.
First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he
laid down the bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. As they
separated enough to look in each other's face, I heard the father say,
"It's so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!" His son smiled
somewhat shyly, averted his eyes, and replied softly, "Me, too, Dad!"
Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe
nine or ten) and while cupping his son's face in his hands said, "You're
already quite the young man. I love you very much, Zach!" They too hugged
a most loving , tender hug.
While this was happening, a baby girl ( perhaps one or one-and
-a-half)was squirming excitedly in her mother's arms, never once taking
her little eyes off the wonderful sight of her returning father. The man
said, "Hi, baby girl!" as he gently took the child from her mother.
He quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest
while rocking her from side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and
simply laid her head on his shoulder, motionless in pure contentment.
After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and
declared, "I've saved the best for last!" and proceeded to give his wife
the longest , most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He gazed into
her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed, "I love you
so much!"
They stared into each other's eyes, beaming big smiles at one
another,while holding both hands. For an instant they reminded me of
newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldn't
possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment, then realized how totally
engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more
than an arm's length away from me. I
suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I were invading something sacred, but
was amazed to hear my own voice nervously ask, "Wow! How long have you
two been married?"
"Been together fourteen years total, married tweleve of those, he
replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wife's face.
"Well then, how long have you been away?" I asked.
The man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming his joyous
smile. "Two whole days!"
Two days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the greeting, I had
asumed he'd been gone for at least several weeks--if not months. I know
my expression betrayed me, I said almost offhandedly hoping to end my
intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to get back to searching
for my friend), "I hope my marriage is still that passionate after
twelve years!"
The man suddenly stopped smiling. He looked me straight in the eye,
and with a forcefulness that burned right into my soul, he told me
something that left me a different person. He told me, "Don't hope
friend.....decide."
Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and
said, "God bless!" With that, he and his family turned and strode away
together.
I was still watching that exceptional man and his special family
walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me and asked, "What'cah
looking at?" Without hesitation, wnd with a curious sense of certanity,
I replied, "My future!"
~Michael Hargrove