Don’t Hope,… 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 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!”

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