October 30, 2008

Wish you enough....Wednesday

I came across this email today in my "keepsakes", it was sent to me a few years ago from a friend whose mother had passed away the month before. This was the last email she sent to him, before she died.....

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments
together at the airport. They had announced the departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said "I
love you. 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 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 goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?".
"Yes, I have," I replied. "Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever goodbye?".
"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 goodbye, 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 as if she 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 hellos to get you through the final goodbye
She then began to sob 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 then an entire life to
forget them.
Makes you think, doesn't it?


1 comment:

Lucy said...

Yes, it does make you think. That's why I love your blog, you're always posting things that get me thinking. :) Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing. Have a very happy Halloween and I can't wait to see the boys dressed up!