When we hear that question our thoughts usually go to the subject of money. And we figure someone is about to lecture us on “having too much,” “spending too much,” or “wanting too much.” But let’s don’t go there this time. Let’s look at this question from an unexpected slant.

A friend, John Grant, recently sent me his insightful news letter, in which a section stopped me on this issue. Let me share it with you….

ENOUGH
A father and son had their last moments together at the airport. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the father said, “I love you and I wish you enough”. The son replied, “Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your support and love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.”
They hugged and kissed and the son left for his flight. The Dad walked over to the window near 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 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 he lives so far away. I have health problems and the reality is – his next trip back will likely be for my funeral,” he said.
“When you were saying good-bye, 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 a moment and looked up trying to remember it in detail and then 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.” Then he recited the following:
 I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
 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 spirit to know that you are connected to things beyond your control.
 I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in 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 you through the final good-bye.
( Written by Jack Levine )

So how about it, do you have enough? And, what did this story mean to you? Thanks John, for challenging me!

This entry was posted on Friday, July 13th, 2007 at 6:57 pm and is filed under Bob Reccord Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.