Don't Hope Friend...Decide!
by Michael D. Hargrove
While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in
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!