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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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