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
six 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 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 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 fourteen years total,
married twelve 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
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 twelve 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!
By Michael D.
Hargrove
Now Playing: Together Again
Love and happiness are like perfume: You
cannot pour them on others without getting a few drops on
yourself.
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Tim
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