Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last
moments together at the airport. The airline had announced
her departure and standing near the security gate, they
hugged and he said,
"I love you. I wish you enough."
She in turn said, "Dad, our life together has been more
than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you
enough, too, Dad."
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. "Forgive me for asking, but why
is this a forever good-bye?"
"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges
ahead, and the reality is, the next trip back will 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
for many generations within my family. My parents used to say
it to everyone."
He paused for a moment, 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:
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 you enough 'Hellos' to get you through the final 'Good-byes'.
Then he walked away.
I think too often we expect our lives to be perfect, taking
for granted all of the "inconveniences" that come our way.
We all need to remember the bad things are as important as
the blessings in life because they help to develop character.
How would we appreciate joys in life without sorrow?