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.
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.
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!”
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.
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.
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.
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?
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!”
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.
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!”
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.
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!”
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!”
Michael D. Hargrove
This is very interesting. It means the power to love our wives lies in us to decided. I have learnt something new from this piece.