I Wish You Enough

An Inspirational Short Story

Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, ‘I love you, and I wish you enough.’ The daughter replied, ‘Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.’ They kissed and the daughter left.
 
The Father walked over to the window 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 she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is – the next trip back will 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 as if trying to remember it in detail, and 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 turning toward me, he shared the following as if he 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 goodbye.”
 

The essence of the story is also to simply enjoy what you have and be thankful for that. The story tells us to wish people enough. When we wish enough for someone, we pray that they learn to appreciate things for what they are. There are always two sides to the same thing as there are two sides to a coin.
 
If we don’t appreciate one part, how can we appreciate the whole thing? The story teaches us to live in the moment and, laugh and live like there is no tomorrow. We often don’t say what we want to say or we don’t do what we really want to do, thinking there is more life or time.
 
We keep procrastinating and leave everything for the future. One should always remember that our time on this earth is limited and every little thing is precious. We are lucky to have this life in which we can do so many things, make so many memories, and experience so many valuable moments.
 
Taking a lesson from Bob’s story, we should be cautious of what we share with our loved ones and what we wish them. Every moment with people we love is precious, make sure you make the most of it. Time flies and people leave before we even realize so don’t wait for the time when it’s already late. Tell people how much they mean to you or how much you love them. Wish them enough of everything so that they understand the value of things. Sometimes people take things for granted. They don’t realize how lucky they are to have received things that they have.
 
Thus, Bob suggests in his story that you should wish just enough good things for people. He even suggests wishing enough loss so that we appreciate what we have. You should wish enough pain for your loved ones so that they appreciate small joy. It may look like a harsh thing to say to your loved ones but just enough of anything only ensures your loved one values precious things in life.

There are many versions of this story available online. However, the point of each of these versions remains the same and the overall message is the same. The story is about wishing for just enough of everything for ourselves and others so that we would learn to value those things in life. The story is from “Chicken Soup For The Grieving Soul”.