~~The Future~~
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 jetway, 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!"
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