Recently, I overheard a mother and
daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter’s
departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they
hugged and the mother said: “I love you and 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 sat. 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 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 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 good-bye, 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, 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 good-bye.”
She then began to cry and walked away.
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-bye.”
She then began to cry and walked away.
Nurture Relationships…..As
they say….It takes a minute to find a special person ~ An hour to
appreciate them ~ A day to love them ~ And then an entire life to forget
them.