I wish you enough
Recently I overheard a
father and daughter having their last moments together. They had
announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he
said, "I love you. I wish you
enough."
She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more
than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I
wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed and she left.
He walked over toward the window where I was
seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to
intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, "Did
you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would
be forever?"
"Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back
memories I had of expressing my love and
appreciation for all my Dad had done for me.
Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the
time to tell him face to face how much he meant to
me. So I knew what this man was experiencing.
"Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever
good-bye?" I asked.
"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have
challenges ahead and the reality is, the next trip back would be for my
funeral," he said.
"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, I
wish you enough. May I ask what that means?"
He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been
handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He
paused for
moment and looking up as if trying to remember it
in detail, he smiled even more. "When we said 'I
wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person
to have a life filled with just enough good things
to sustain them," he continued and then turning
toward me he shared the following as if he were
reciting it from memory.
"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish enough "Hello's" to
get you through the final "Good-bye."
He then began to sob and walked away.
7028