Dear Hurting Parent, I Wish You Enough

photo cre. Baylee Gramling

I did not write this story. Someone sent it to me many years ago, but I don’t know the source. Because of the impact on me, I saved it. Now I’m compelled to share the story once a year to encourage as many others as possible.

“At an airport I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her plane’s departure and standing near the door, he said to his daughter, “I love you, honey. I wish you enough.” She responded, “Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough too.” They kissed good-bye and she left.

A Forever Good-Bye

He walked over toward the window where I was seated. 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?”

Photo cred. Robert Bye on unsplash

“Yes, I have.” Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my dad had done for me. Recognizing his days were coming to an end, I took the time to tell him face to face how much he meant to me. So I knew what this man was experiencing. “Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?”

“I’m old and she lives much too far away. I’ve got challenges ahead and the reality is, her next trip back will be for my funeral.”

“I’m so sorry. When you said good-bye I heard you say, ‘I wish you enough.’ May I ask what that means?”

He cocked his head to one side and smiled at me. “That’s a wish handed down from generation to generation in my family. My parents used to say it to everyone.”

He paused for a moment and looked up at the ceiling as if trying to remember the details then he smiled even more. “When we said ‘I wish you enough,’ we meant that we wanted the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them.” Turning toward me he shared the following from memory:

I Wish You Enough

photo cred. Janet Plock

“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun.

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 what you possess.

I wish you enough ‘hellos’ to get you through the final ‘good-bye’.”

After a long pause he turned away and walked down the terminal. Wiping a tear from my eyes, I watched as he slowly made his way through the crowds.

Dear brokenhearted parent, may God not only give you enough, but may HE be your enough. Enough to carry you all the way through this wearisome journey with your child. He will not fail you. He has gone before you and will be with you. He is all you need! Amen.

This Old Testament verse from the Bible encourages me when I don’t think I have “enough” of something or someone:

The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; he will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed (Deuteronomy 31:8).