by Michael D. Hargrove
| This year |
| All years |
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."