I found a story on face book the other day that jumped out at me - especially this time of year.
It was called, I wish you enough.
You see 8 years ago today I lost my mother.
In fact I lost her shortly after this photo - within a few months - it was a sudden and wrenching loss.
The hole she left has never been filled, never gone away and has not diminished much over the years. As my kids grow, I wish for her guidance, her patience, her hugs and her laugh.
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.
I loved my mother. She was a very rare soul that knew how to LOVE.
I miss her all the time, but not for the reasons you might think.
I wish she could see my children.
My husband (who she adored)
Our home.
I know she would want to share our joys.
This week our family has been sick with a very nasty stomach bug, my husband to help me pass the time helped me set up a small area so I could paint my Christmas Village houses.
Painting them reminds me of my mother.
Of her village, her painting, her smile and my sister and I's reverence every year when we unpacked the village and placed it under the Christmas tree.
It was as if Christmas wasn't here and official until the village was set up.
So in-spite of how short our time was with our mother we did have enough love, enough memories and enough time... I just will always want more.
This holiday season the best gift you can give someone is your time. In the hustle and bustle of the season its easy to forget that love, friendship and being together is more important than anything that comes with bows.
So that when the time comes to say goodbye, you will have had enough instead of a lot of empty yesterdays filled with good intentions.
She's been gone 8 years, but the love she gave me still remains.
It was called, I wish you enough.
You see 8 years ago today I lost my mother.
In fact I lost her shortly after this photo - within a few months - it was a sudden and wrenching loss.
The hole she left has never been filled, never gone away and has not diminished much over the years. As my kids grow, I wish for her guidance, her patience, her hugs and her laugh.
~~~
I WISH YOU ENOUGH.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.
~~~
I loved my mother. She was a very rare soul that knew how to LOVE.
I miss her all the time, but not for the reasons you might think.
I wish she could see my children.
My husband (who she adored)
Our home.
I know she would want to share our joys.
This week our family has been sick with a very nasty stomach bug, my husband to help me pass the time helped me set up a small area so I could paint my Christmas Village houses.
Painting them reminds me of my mother.
Of her village, her painting, her smile and my sister and I's reverence every year when we unpacked the village and placed it under the Christmas tree.
It was as if Christmas wasn't here and official until the village was set up.
So in-spite of how short our time was with our mother we did have enough love, enough memories and enough time... I just will always want more.
This holiday season the best gift you can give someone is your time. In the hustle and bustle of the season its easy to forget that love, friendship and being together is more important than anything that comes with bows.
So that when the time comes to say goodbye, you will have had enough instead of a lot of empty yesterdays filled with good intentions.
She's been gone 8 years, but the love she gave me still remains.
1 comment:
Dearest Telisha beautifully written and a wonderful reminder that the "things" we need most cost absolutely nothing - Time.
Your mother is with you, your children, your hubby and all whom she loved each and every moment in thought, heart and memory. She is now one of your Angels, looking over you. She ask her anything - then be open minded to hear a response. It may come in a song; in an image you see over and over; in a thought that comes out of the blue; in a comment someone makes.
Blessings my friend ... I wish you enough.. Hugs, C. (HHL)
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