While reflecting on my upcoming 65th birthday, and in the midst of the busiest 2 months the local Real Estate market has experienced since 2005, I came across this story. Reading this left me very moved and thankful to have made it to 65, when so many we knew, and loved didn't. Thanks to Rita, one of our 3 wonderful daughters for sharing this story and it's enlightened wisdom for any age.
Recently, I overhead a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport, 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 have ever needed, I wish you enough too, Mom.”
They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. 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 good-bye forever?
“I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead, and the reality is her 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 use to say it to everyone.” She paused for a moment and then 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 as if she were reciting it from memory.
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in your life may appear 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 through the final goodbye
Then, she 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, but an entire life to forget them.
TAKE TIME TO LIVE
To all of our friends, family, and those special people we are yet to meet:
WE WISH YOU ENOUGH