Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their
last moments together at the airport as 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 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.

Let us journey on... I wish you enough...