I Wish You ‘Enough’
Recently, I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced her plane's departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, "l love you. I wish you enough.” She said, "Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy." They kissed and she left.
He walked over toward the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by turning to me and asking, "Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever???" " Yes, I have," I replied. Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my father had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing and how he was feeling. "Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye," I inquired. He replied "l am old, and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead, and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral”.
With a lump in my throat and I tear in my eye, I turned to him and said, "When you were saying good-bye to your daughter I overheard you say 'l wish you enough'." "May I ask what that means?"
He began to smile. "That’s a wish that has been handed down from previous generations. My parents used to say it to everyone." He paused for a moment, and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. "When we said 'l wish you enough', we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain and appreciate them," he continued and then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from deep in his memory.
"l wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun every time it shines. 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 and achievement to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to be grateful for all that you possess. I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye". He then began to sob and walked away.
My friends and loved ones, I wish you ENOUGH! Please send this to your friends and loved ones.
Author Unknown