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 she said, “Daddy, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Daddy.” They kissed good-bye and she left.

He walked over toward 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.

Saying that brought back memories I had of expressing my love and appreciation for all my Dad had done for me. Recognizing that his days were limited, 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 asked.

“I am old and she lives much too far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is, her 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 for a moment and looking up as if trying to remember it in detail, he smiled even more. “When we said ‘I wish you enough,’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with enough good things to sustain them,” he continued and 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.

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 enough “Hello’s” to get you through the final “Good-bye.”

He then began to sob and walked away.

———–

My friends and loved ones, I wish you ENOUGH!!!  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 the time to live!!!

( Luke 15:11-24 )

I wonder who among us hasn’t read through the story of the prodigal son and imagined being one of the characters in the parable.  Years ago I was sitting in church one Sunday listening to my pastor preach a sermon on forgiveness.  I can’t remember the text but I certainly remember the message.

Have you ever had one of those moments when you are absolutely certain that the Holy Spirit is speaking directly to you?  This was one of those times.  I was in my late twenties at the time.  I sat there listening, squirming, as the pastor said, “Even if you know the person whom you sinned against has already forgiven you, if you never asked that person for forgiveness, you need to go back and do so.” 

I just knew he was talking to me about my dad.  I had spent too many years being angry with my dad.  My dad had a job that frequently took him out of town when I was in high school.  I had been mad at him, feeling like he missed out on a big part of my life. 

As chance would have it, I had plans to go to my parents’ home after church that day for lunch.  I knew what the Holy Spirit was requiring me to.  I had to speak to my dad.  But more than that, I had to repent, apologize, and ask my dad for his forgiveness.  We sat down at the dinner table, prayed, and began to eat.  I knew that I couldn’t eat a bite before I spoke to my dad.  I said, “Dad, I need to apologize to you for something.  I was so mad at you when I was younger and I didn’t give you the respect that you deserved.  I disagreed with you on everything, for no reason.  I’m sorry.  Will you forgive me?”

My dad looked at me and said wholeheartedly, “Tim, I don’t remember any of those times.”  I was completely blown away by his reply.  How could he not remember those times?  Then I realized that my dad was acting just like my Father.  He was choosing to forget.  He was choosing to run to me.  He was choosing to throw his arms around me and kiss me.  Never before had I seen so clearly the heart of our Father in the actions of my dad.  That event was a turning point in my relationship with him.

As we continue on this journey of discipleship we need to remember how necessary it is to die to ourselves each day, to respond to the Holy Spirit, and to walk in obedience to Father, just like Jesus did. 

Father, thank you for never giving up on us.  Thank you for keeping watch for us, for showing us Your extreme compassion, for running to us and for welcoming us home.

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.

“Your son is here.” she said to the old man.

She had to repeat the words several times before the patient’s eyes opened.

He was heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man’s limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man’s hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile. He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital – the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.

Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.

Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

“Who was that man?” he asked. The nurse was startled. “He was your father, wasn’t he?” she answered. “No, he wasn’t.” the Marine replied. “I never saw him before in my life.”

“Then why didn’t you say something when I took you to him?”

“I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn’t here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed.”

The next time someone needs you … just be there. Stay.