Well, did you survive Black Friday—the day when Americans get up in the wee hours of the morning to spend money for things that they either think they need or wish to give as Christmas gifts? Looking around my home I decided that there was nothing I needed that would require me to brave such hours with crowds of people cramming through shop doors and standing in long lines. I have enough stuff.

Valuable things rarely are things. Bob Perks shares the touching story of observing an airport parting between an aging father and his daughter. Apparently it was a final goodbye as the father was dying and the daughter lived too far away to visit again. The father’s last teary words for his daughter were, “I wish you enough.” As the daughter boarded the plane, Bob asked the gentleman about the meaning of the words. He responded:

“That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone. 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.” The older gentleman then shared the following seven wishes 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 “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Goodbye.”

I think I’ve found a new blessing this Christmas: “I wish you enough.” How about you? Do you have just enough good things to sustain you? Do you, like me, have things that crowd out what’s important in life? I’d love to hear your insights on having enough.

P.S. If you enjoyed this story, find more like it in Bob’s new book.

In Him together, Susan Gaddis