Sunday, January 2, 2005

I WISH YOU...

      I WISH YOU ENOUGH
 
Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments
together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing
near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said "I love you.
I wish you enough".
 
The daughter replied, "Mom, our life together has been more than
enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too,
Mom".
 
They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the
window where I was seated. Standing there I could see she wanted and
needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she
welcomed me in by asking "Did you ever say goodbye to someone
knowing it would be forever?".
 
"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a
forever goodbye?".
 
"I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the
reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral" she said.
"When you were saying goodbye, I heard you say' I wish you enough'.
May I ask what that means?". She began to smile. "That's a wish that
has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say
it to everyone".
 
She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in
detail and she 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".
 
Then turning toward me she shared the following as if she 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 you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.
 
She then began to sob and walked away.
 
They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to
appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to
forget them. Send this to the people you will never forget and
remember to send it back to the person who sent it to you. If you
don't send it to anyone it may mean that you are in such a hurry
that you have forgotten your friends.
 
TAKE TIME TO LIVE.....My friends and loved ones, I WISH YOU ENOUGH!!!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful story!  Thanks for sharing.  This has lifted my spirits.  Thanks.