"I WISH YOU ENOUGH" by Bob Perks
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.
They say it takes a minute to find a special person.
An hour to appreciate them.
A day to love them.
And an entire life to forget
them.
NOTE: I received this on a chain e-mail, during a time I was really missing my kids. The words may have been altered from the original version as passed along. I thought the words and the meaning behind them were not only beautiful but contain alot of truth. That you to Bob Perks for sharing your wisdom with us!
-- Daylen Swift
And to my kids, I love 1,222,222,000,000 + 0= U! I thank God for you every day. And am so happy to be your Mommy. I wish you enough. LOTS of Love ~ Mommy
