Love is a Decision
(Author Unknown)
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. 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!"
"Husbands, love your wives, just as
Christ also loved the church and gave
Himself for her, that He might sanctify and
cleanse her with the washing of
water by the word, that He might present her to
Himself a glorious church,
not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but
that she should be holy
and without blemish. So husbands ought to love
their own wives as their own
bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For
no one ever hated his own
flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as
the Lord does the church. For
we are members of His body, of His flesh and of
His bones. 'For this reason
a man shall leave his father and mother and be
joined to his wife, and the
two shall become one flesh.'" (Ephesians
5:25-31 NKJV)
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in
this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for
us."
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
Sin breaks God's laws as well as His heart.
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