Don't Hope, Friend...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.
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 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, and 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, and replied softly, "Me too, Dad!"
Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe 9 or 10) and
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 babygirl!" 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 and remained
motionless in total 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 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 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 looked at me, still beaming his joyous
smile and told me, "Two whole days!"
Two 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 (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 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 and said, "God bless!" With that, he
and his family turned and energetically 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!"
Michael D. Hargrove
© Copyright 1997 by Michael D. Hargrove. All rights reserved. Reprinted with
permission.
Michael Hargrove is a published author, professional speaker, and is currently
serving as CEO of My Success Company. His work regularly appears in many
magazines, websites, and books throughout the world. He is also a contributing
author to the very successful Chicken Soup for the Soul book and television
series. Michael can be reached at: My Success Company - P.O. Box 1218 - Lake
Oswego, OR 97035 - (888) My Success -
mhargrove@bluinc.com