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.
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