“Don’t Hope, But Decide….”

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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

You know, the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly?

Well, 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 2 light bags . He stopped right next to me to greet his family.

First, he motioned to his youngest son (maybe 6 yrs old) as he laid down his bags

They gave each other a long & movingly 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, diverted his eyes & replied softly,
“Me too, Dad!”

Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe 9) & while cupping his son’s face in his hands he said,

“You’re already quite the young man. I love you very much Zach!”

They too hugged a most loving, tender hug. His son said nothing. No reply was necessary.

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 & 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 & remained motionless in total pure contentment

After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son & declared
“I’ve saved the best for last!”

& proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing

He gazed into her eyes for several seconds & then quietly said,
“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 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 14 yrs 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 looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile & told me, “2 whole days!”

2 days?!
I was stunned!
I was certain by the intensity of the greeting I just witnessed that he’d been gone for at least several weeks, if not months, and I know my expression betrayed me

So, I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some semblance of grace (& to get back to searching for my friend),

“I hope my marriage is still that passionate after 12 yrs!”

The man suddenly stopped smiling He looked me straight in the eye & with an
intensity 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 & said,
“God bless!”

With that, he & his family turned & energetically strode away together.

I was still watching that special man & his exceptional family walk just out of sight when my friend came up to me & asked,

“What’cha looking at?”

Without hesitating & with a curious sense of certainty,
I replied, “My future!”