Too
often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all
of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Let's learn from the
following article inspired
by the writings of
Fr. Mike Lagrimas of St. Teresa Church, New
York City.
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 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 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 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 as if she were
reciting it from memory.
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 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.
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 but then an
entire life to forget them.
Take time to live....
To all our friends and loved
ones,
We WISH YOU ENOUGH........