My friends, I wish you enough

Author: 

 

My Friends,
Recently at an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their  last
moments together. They had announced her departure and standing near the
security gate, they hugged and he said, "I love you, I wish you enough."

She in turn 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 and needed to cry. I tried
not to intrude on his privacy, but he 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 asked.

"I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and
the reality is, the next trip back would be for my funeral," he said.

"When you were saying good-bye I heard you say, 'I wish you enough." May
I ask what that means?"

He began to smile. "That's a wish that has been handed down from other
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 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to
have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them," he
continued and then turning toward me he shared the following as if he
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 enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye."

Tears filled his eyes and he walked away.

My friends, I wish you enough