~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS:
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 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. I heard the father say,
"It's so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!" His son smiled and
replied softly, "Me, too, Dad!"
Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or
ten) and 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, at the sight of her returning
father. He gently took the child from her mother, quickly kissed her and
held her close to his chest. Next, he handed his daughter to his oldest son
and declared, "I've saved the best for last!" and preceded 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!"
I realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of
unconditional love not more than an arm's length away from me, and suddenly
felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred.
"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.
"I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!" The man
suddenly stopped smiling. He told me, "Don't hope, friend... decide!" Then
he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, "God
bless!" 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!
C Copyright 1997 by Michael D. Hargrove
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 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. I heard the father say,
"It's so good to see you, son. I missed you so much!" His son smiled and
replied softly, "Me, too, Dad!"
Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or
ten) and 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, at the sight of her returning
father. He gently took the child from her mother, quickly kissed her and
held her close to his chest. Next, he handed his daughter to his oldest son
and declared, "I've saved the best for last!" and preceded 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!"
I realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of
unconditional love not more than an arm's length away from me, and suddenly
felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred.
"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.
"I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!" The man
suddenly stopped smiling. He told me, "Don't hope, friend... decide!" Then
he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, "God
bless!" 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!
C Copyright 1997 by Michael D. Hargrove
