"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.
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