Our Word for 2009

I saw a post on Tip Junkie a couple of days ago that said many bloggers have a word of the year that helps them to sum up their goals and resolutions for that year. LOVE IT! A new way to pick something to improve on without the endless resolution 'to do' lists that usually get tossed after a few guilty months of trying and not succeeding. I surfed many of the blogs she had posted that shared their words for 2009 and here is one post that really hit home...

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. 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 was seated. 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 - her 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 wanted the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them."

Then, turning toward me, she shared the following as if she 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 good-bye.

I couldn't quit thinking about this post and how the word 'Enough' took on a whole different meaning. I have used that word with the kids for things like "we don't have enough money for this or that"...but as we recently found out Kendyl was under the assumption that we were poor. WHAT?? We have a great life..the kids don't go without...I don't buy unneccesary things, and yes there are times we need to stretch our money. But we had to take a moment and explain to Kendyl all the things we DO have and how many other people go without so much.

So after pondering the word that would enrich our family the most this year we are going with the word...

~APPRECIATE ~

It is time to quit taking the things we have in life for granted, notice that we have 'enough', and take time to APPRECIATE the many blessings that our family has been given.

We wish you enough this upcoming year in 2009......