|
| 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 jet way, 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 6 years old) as he laid
down his 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 9
or 10) 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 1 or 1-1/2) 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 at 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 was invading something sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice
nervously ask, "Wow! How long have you two been married?"
"Been together 14 years total, married 12 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'd
assumed 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 12 years!"
The man suddenly stopped smiling. He looked me straight in the eye,
and with 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'cha looking at?"
Without hesitating, and with a curious sense of certainty, I
replied, "My future."
-- Unknown |
|
 |
|
