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!”
- By Michael D. Hargrove and Bottom Line Underwriters, Inc.
Copyright 1997
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{ 168 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice story, just we should learn how to express our love, it doesn’t depend on time…
Don’t sit day dreaming, get up and work. Eh!, but do the right one!
What a nice story!!! keep it up!!
What a cool story……………………
Awsome. Gives us more moral values …………
A real good story. It taught us something very important about Love!! Express it…
Oh God, what a beautiful story, it touched me a lot ….. what a great love.
If we decide to live a lovely life we will do it but the hard matter is that the couple together shoud decide that!
This is exactly the relationship that I choose to have. Baby, we’ll make this work.
It’s fantastic. besides the theme the way that such an important idea has been expressed is noticeable.
Well, not everything will go the way we planned. we may decide to do sth, but that sth may turn out to be sth else. however, it’s good if we make decision to do sth our best, regardless of what the outcome would be.
The story is so sweet. It left me a wave of surprise. Each moment is precious with our family-a group of people who are always with us and share joy and sorrow.
a CooL,Nice,sweeT,BeauTiFuL,aweSoMe,FanTasTic anD GooD sToRy…. =D
So then, I have decided that me too will have such a passionate love.
Very nice story….actually the man loved his wife very much as he expressed his love in the last after his children….this is what is called belongingness……love for his wife is true….
Thats quit good specially the expression,of girl child.Writer feel it and we feel it too…
I decide and not hope that this will happen in my life too..such a real love.
thankz for this cool stories.. =)
reallyyyyyyyy nice
veryyyyyyyy nice!!!!!
don’t hope, …….decide ; thanks to make me feel the past….
Awesome story. I have DECIDED…..
I decide to hope, FAIL XD. No hope is for people that can’t make a choice!
I thought if we hope then the work is half done,,,,,,,,,, after reading this story it is clear that we should not only hope but should decide……….
wonderful!
Learn to sit back and think about the past(wow)
It sounds like an islland of happiness among our distroying world! I wish everyone had such a wonderful family life!
Awsome story..its really touching..i have decided
Loved it….. I am sure I’ll get same experience…

damn sure about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
perfect’s the word I’d use!
I liked the story, very beautiful. “Dont hope…..just decide.”!
MY FAMILY IS AWAY AT THE MOMENT. LE’ME SEE WHAT I HAVE LEARNT TODAY.
hmm… it is just awesome….. I don’t have the words to describe but I really like the story……
specially the TITLE……. Dont hope…just decide……
I just cry and realise the true love. Very good situation indeed.
Thank you.
Soul awakening story….really inspirational.
a very amazing story and beautifully told..
It was good. I am going to meet my mom after 2 years and now i really know the importance of family.
It’s just great! Very moving and inspirational.
wowww………really nice
It’s the last sentence always which gives you the total feel and you were wonderful in giving it.. Really good one..
It is a great story, seriously loved it.
Veryyyyyyyyyyyy nice story….loved it……
Nice story, I really enjoyed it with the description of love.
just loved it…………….
Hope after hardwork, never fails.
I’m someone who loves fairytale, and hoping to meet my prince and I would live with him happily ever after.,,, how fool I am, now I know that if I wanted happiness i should just not hope but as well as decide how to acquire such happiness.
Only hope is waste of time while not struggling to achieve it, so it’s a nice story to bring hope to reality.
I am very touched by this story, but i am not such a good reader so i could not understand what did he mean by the last words – don’t hope,friend …decide – can pls somebody help me understand what did he mean by that
wow…..! I am stunned and shocked, Really yar!
An expression of the inner you without being scared of the way its perceived. Is the height of it. Beautiful~
To hope is to be disappointed, it gets you nowhere, only leaves more worry and stress. To act and decide is the best thing to do, if you decide to try your best at everything you do with full determination and commitment is the best way to win.
I find to have hope is not to have full confidence in your abilities, you aren’t confident you will succeed.
Wonderful story.
Very touchy…. such love is difficult to find these days…
Fantastic inspirational story…this shows that love never dies infact it increases with the passage of time…..
I have decided…
Such a nice story…
Fabulous! ! ! What a great moral. . . I’ve learned my lesson for today. . I am actually in a state of great nervousness the moment I am reading this because this would be the day I am going to be taking in calls in my current job. I am a new hire here and so It is quite stressful. But because of this message, not related to love though, but I’ve made up my mind that I am going to give my best to the calls I am going to be taking in today, I am not just going to hope. . I have made up my mind. . I have to make it.
I have decided here and now to keep the light of love aglow in my marriage no matter how years we have lived together. May God give me the grace…AMEN
Utterly Amazing! I’ve reconsidered & decided
Thanks for sharing.
Be blessed.
Thanks for this great story . From now i have just decided
Wowowow..!!! It is like a fresh air for a relationship seeing hardships…
Good one, really changed the thinking………….
”Don’t hope, friend……decide!” This sentence touched me…..
GREAT story!
Great story, enjoyed inspired and motivated while reading…..
wow great story.. I have decided too
Very nice story, true too.
Whoa…!!!!!!! I just kept smiling….reading this, it’s really really….nice.. I just loved it !!!!!!
Really nice one…….wow…
I like the moral of this story.. thank you for sharing..
I love it. It is totally true and the story has the meaningful meaning.
Well honestly speaking i din find the story inspiring although the content was gud.
Awesome story, the moral of it is really heart touching. Love it.
It is better to take a wrong decision than to hope for what can never be realised
Hmm… Though I’m not married yet, I’m jealous of this love. I have now decided to be like him when I’m married.
Nice one
How often we blame things and most time conclude on hope when NOW requires that we decides. The hope we long for is the little decisions of today. I love this story it is… sweet
What a soul saving story. This is a wonderful one, it can bring a dying love back to life. I love it
I like this story is rely motivating and can build up too
Keep me informed. I love the piece.
Superb………………………………………….
Really superb story.
Good stories. Love is life.
Is there any such in real life? or only in stories? Really thought provoking. The 4 worded sentence, “Don’t hope, friend….Decide” is excellently built.
I decide today that my marriage will be like that or more…
WOW!!! Really, at times we realize that somethings need to be decided not hoped…..
Thanks for this inspiring story.. ^_^ I’m eager to share this to my hubby..
Wow! Now that’s what you call love!
Wow, can’t wait to start practicing this in my life.
Wowww, what a beautiful and sweet story. I also have decided to love my beloved throughout my whole life.
It’s really an inspiring story.
I really love this story which has given me tips to value my love… I begin to mis him not only minutes but seconds. Thanks… I am looking for the same ending with my baby.
Very inspirational & motivational story. Of course the way we think, the same way our life turns out to be, I practically practice it… I hope all of us can utilise this Life’s Secret.
..Though I’m still a student reading this made me wish to marry someone just like him someday. Very nice!!!
It suits me. I always hope to do this, to do that but never did anything. Thanks, this story really inspired me. Great job!!!
Wow……… truly outstanding story……. What a soul saving story. This is a wonderful one, it can bring a dying love back to life. I love it
Awesome story, just loved it!!!
The word will be a better place if everyone decides the same thing…truly inspirational.
Go ahead………don’t take rest untill u achive ur dream.
Nice story…from my side at this point i will say only one thing…
Love is for everyone…that’s call life is
L – Love
I – Is
F – For
E – Everyone
Fabulous…
Thank you for such a well written article!
“You must take care of love, otherwise it goes bad!” it was said by a 6-year old girl that appeared in the Reader’s Digest many years ago! I have been following this ‘mantra’ in our 36 years of married life and still going so crispy! It means the same – decide and act! How would you ‘take care of love’ is upon you, one has to be unique and industrious!
I’ve decided…..really nice story….
Stories are very nice and inspired some lessons in life.
Hmmm… I decided to “decide”
This is such a great story. There is faith, hope, love but the greatest of these is love.
Truly inspirational.
Relevant in every situation in life, be it love, making any difficult situation easy, achieving any of your goals w/o hoping but deciding to achieve.
What a wonderful way to make your loved ones happy irrespective of their imperfections, just like in this story which would certainly make you happy as well or even making not-so-loved ones happy so that it will eventually transform them to be your loved ones.
Way to go!
Nice story, but greatly been exhibited as one to keep his foot in others shoe…
I loved it..
Wow.. a real true story… Just trust your love and show it…!!!
Nice story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Really nice story.. keep it up..
Nice story
Very nice story
Wow
Really great touching story…….
I learned how to love family, friend, God because this story is very important to our life. If no love, there will be wars, battles etc!!!
Great motivation for me!!!
Hope to give my right decision for that kind of love..
Awesome story, I really want to be in this manner.
I love it, I have decided.
Nice !!! It’s good if we make decision to do our best, regardless of what the outcome would be even if it does not turn at times.
Nice . . .
Nice
Very, very nice story…………….
I like this story very much.
Really touching, beautiful and inspiring story for those who have forgotten to express their love in today’s speedy world.
Superb…
A superb story. Motivational and moral!!!
This story is awesome…..it is touching heart, motivational and more.
A story with a great moral.
This story is fabulously interesting.
Can it happen
I was touched by that constant love. Hit me totally hard, how I wish to have that genuine relationship. Not only wishing or hoping but it is in me to do for what I wanted to. Someday.
I never had a loving husband.. Atleast I am happy to see a best pair ever .. and felt the warmth..
Wow!! fabulous story
So finally I have decided that what I have to do in my life
not hoping
I still think without hope you can’t decide to have happiness. So the man shouldn’t have stopped the dreamer from hoping
Yeah, I love it…… I hope all the couples will be like this..!!!!
Superb story…….
Lovely one. I decide to have such by God’s grace.
I’m glad I chose to stop and read this. Very good brother!
I love it when God speaks to you through life events like this.
This is the third time I read it. Each time it inspires me and keep me decide and do the best I can.
I like #50 rise’s comment, it makes sense. That has been my problem hard to decide. Always hoping things will change. You have to work on being confident first and be self assure then decide and move on, and share your love.
These morals stories are incredible. Thank you.
The writer must have seen my real life experience and wrote the story, so guys don’t hope just decide.
Really great story, t touched my heart. Keep on posting such great stories.
Great ….
“Love” is a feeling stands in us till our last breath….too great..
Hi! What a nice story it is, I like it very much!
Nice story….
I must say…..a very lovely and sweet story…..:)
“I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!”
I loved this line … it meant a lot.. especially the usage of “Passionate”… beautiful articulation of feelings..
Keep it up!
Very nice story! Thanks for sharing
I hope my marriage is still that passionate or even more after 50, 60, 70 or 80 years! Amen.
Very nice story
Good one
Wow!!! I must confess that I don’t know the right WORD 2 use in describing this story. It’s more than being SPLENDID. I hope 4 such endless love.
I decided 4 such endless love. I am not married still.
Hmm, so sweet, yet so unreal, I wish I would have a man love me like this, I am more than ready to love this way, but have not found a man to love me this way. I think this kind of love is long gone.
I like this story, is really motivating and inspiring! I can’t wait to share this passion with someone in the future!
@Jewel ify
It isn’t “unreal” my dear friend. I’m sure God is preparing someone for you. Just keep your fingers crossed that He will give you the guy that is worthy of your love. Believe in Faith! <-:
Wow….!!! An awesome story of expressing your true love.
Damn! I just had a short burst of argument with my beautiful pregnant wife, and as I tried to vent off my anger through work, I encountered the story. Made my temper dropped down so fast, I know I am like the father in the story, it is a pleasure to constantly make my wife feel loved, but tonight I felt I was not valued, got so up-set I said things to my wife I regretted. I have DECIDED to make things well by tomorrow, when things get cooler. God, you are just so WONDERFUL.
It’s amazing, he is really emotional intelligent and he knows the importance of his family .. I loved the part when he said “I’ve saved the best for the last.”
Wow!!! It shows unselfish family ties. What a wonderful family.
Similar to what my mother said just before she passed away. “I’ve learned that people are as happy as they decide they’re gonna be”
So touching and lovely. I love it.
Is true and inspiring.
WOW! very nice story.
Clarity!
It was as a simple story that conveyed a beautiful message..!! It is worth understanding..!!
Wonderful… decide to begin your real hope…focus and love … happiness is now in your hand….keep smile.
It’s a very good story and me and my husband is just the same and we’re 17 yrs married now……
Wow, no comment, very wonderful.