Recently, a writer overheard a
father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. 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 with 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 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 Dad 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. “Forgive
me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?” 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 goodbye 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 looked 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.
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 goodbye.”
He then began to sob and walked
away. My friends, “I wish you enough!”
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