Feeling Gratitude

Memorial Day

 

Random Act of Kindness

 

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The airline pilot announced over the intercom, "Folks, I've got good news and bad news for you. The bad news is … we're lost. The good news is … we're making great time!"

It's too easy to live our lives like that, isn't it? Always a bit too busy. In a hurry to accomplish the day's tasks. Rushing around but not clear exactly where we want to ultimately end up.

It's been provocatively said, "Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon." The problem is they know they would like to accomplish something important with their lives or they would like to make a certain income or they would like to be happy. But when it comes to making the journey toward those destinations, they feel stuck. In short, they are lost.

Author and speaker Danny Cox, in his book SEIZE THE DAY (Career Press,1994), tells of a man who made a great success of his life in spite of tremendous hardships. The moment that ultimately turned this man's life around was when he sat down and asked himself four important questions:

1) What do I really want? He didn't want to just sleepwalk through life, nor look back someday and feel regret.

2) What will it cost? In time, money and commitment.

3) Am I willing to pay the price?

4) When is the best time to start paying the price?

Answer these four questions and you will be clear on the direction you want to take your life.  Commit to these answers and you'll make great time.

Solemnity of the Ascencion of the Lord

Today we celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. John L. McKenzie, S.J. explains the Ascension of Jesus as “the transfer of His risen, glorious body to ‘heaven’, i.e., to the world of the divine; it implies His corporeal survival, His final glorification, His departure from the material universe.” The Ascension is Jesus’ exaltation and glorification, the sign and seal of the ultimate

accomplishment of His mission.”

Over the years I have reflected on the Ascension and often wondered what the disciples felt at the time of the Ascension. Many of them had witnessed the death of Jesus on the cross and then encountered the resurrected Christ. Their joy at seeing Jesus after the resurrection must have been overwhelming. Now at the Ascension, they are losing him again, forever, or at least until the Second Coming.

When I was a young man discerning my vocation, I often went to daily Mass at a local parish near the hospital where I worked. Once, on the Feast of the Ascension, I was at Mass and the priest began his homily with the statement “He is gone! He is not here.” I got stuck on “he is gone,” and cannot remember the rest of the homily. What I do remember from that Mass is a profound sense of sadness and loss that I have never forgotten. Of course, we all know that although Jesus left our material universe, in St John’s gospel he promised that he would not leave us orphans. Jesus told the disciples and he tells us that “I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you” (John 14:19-21). So, while the Ascension marks the end of Jesus’ physical time on earth, it marks a new beginning for us and our relationship with God.

Next Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost. During these days leading up to Pentecost please pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our Church and on all of us so that we can follow Jesus’ instructions to preach the gospel of the kingdom “throughout the world as a witness to all nations” (Matt. 24:14).

Lord our God,

your Son Jesus Christ lives in your glory

to be nearer to us through his Holy Spirit

and to be near to all people through us.

Give us the Holy Spirit,

that we may have the courage

to help you save the world by serving it

and by building up your kingdom

of justice, truth, and love,

in the name of him whom we await,

Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord

and our Savior for ever.

Amen.

Indifference

Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel got it right when he said:

The opposite of love is not hate,
     it's indifference.

The opposite of art is not ugliness,
     it's indifference.

The opposite of faith is not heresy,
     it's indifference.

And the opposite of life is not death,
     it's indifference.

Nothing will kill a dream or douse the fire of a good idea more quickly than indifference. To whatever endeavor you commit yourself, be on guard primarily against that spirit-quenching attitude of apathy.

At what do you wish to succeed? A project? A job? A relationship? A personal mission? A financial goal? A life purpose? Each one of us has a fire in our heart for something. It's our goal in life to find it and keep it lit.

In order to succeed greatly, one must care greatly. For indifference is no match against a well-attended fire in the heart.

Does God Show Through You

 A little girl, on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, "Mommy, the Priest's homily this morning confused me."

The mother said, “Oh! Why is that?”

The girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?”

“Yes, that's true,” the mother replied.

“He also said that God lives within us. Is that true, too?” 

Again the mother replied, “Yes.”

“Well,” said the girl. “If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn't He show through?”

God I Offer Myself to Thee

Rain

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in a store. She must have been 6-years-old, this beautiful red-haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Walmart.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in: “Mom, let's run through the rain.” she said.

“What?” Mom asked.

“Let's run through the rain!” she repeated.

“No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit.” Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: “Mom, let's run through the rain."

“We'll get soaked if we do." Mom said.

“No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning.” the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm.

“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”

“Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!' ”

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.

Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

“Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God lets us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing.” Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and, yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars.

And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Life is a Process

Life is a process of meeting and solving problems. Solving problems is a way that we test and develop our spiritual muscle. Think of outstanding people such as Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi, and Helen Keller. Lincoln faced the problem of a divided country; Gandhi, an oppressed India; Keller, her personal handicaps. In rising to meet their vision, courage, fortitude, and compassion, they became great not in spite of, but because of their problems.

Problems often come to us in the form of crisis. The Chinese glyph for the word crisis contains two symbols -- one means danger and the other opportunity. When an obstacle is before you, use it to create a beneficial result. As with Lincoln, Gandhi, and Keller, let your problems bring out your greatness.

Rather than pray for a life that is problem-free, ask for one that is solution-full. Instead of requesting that God remove the mountain before you, seek the strength to climb it. Remember that the best students always get the toughest problems. Love the problems you have, and their priceless gifts will be yours.

Letting Your Soul Catch Up

Did you know that practicing some form of relaxation is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself? Taking time each day to quiet your mind and breathe deeply, can make a big difference in how you feel throughout your day and into the night. And dedicating a day every week for mental and spiritual renewal is equally important.

We're told that the word "relax" has its origin in the Latin word "relaxare," which means "to loosen." When we relax, we are in effect loosening tension, releasing tightly held energy and letting go. From the state of relaxation we can experience calm peacefulness.

Another great word is the Hebrew word "Shabbat" which, of course, is a day of rest. But it quite literally means to "quit; stop; take a break." Whatever you are doing, stop it. Whatever you are saying, be quiet. Sit down and take a look around. Don't do anything. Don't say anything. Fold your hands. Take a deep breath.

Extended periods of rest are a biological necessity. The human body is like an old-fashioned wind-up clock. If it is not rewound by rest, ultimately it will run itself down.

A group of Americans made a trip with Brazilian natives down the Amazon River. The first day they rushed. The second day they rushed. The next day they rushed. One day, anxious to continue the trek, they were surprised to find the natives seated together in a circle.

When asked the reason for the delay, a guide answered, "They are waiting. They cannot move further until their souls have caught up with their bodies."

Do you owe yourself time to let your soul catch up with your body?

6th Sunday of Easter

Today is the 6th Sunday of Easter. Our journey of discovery of the risen Christ with the disciples is drawing to its dramatic conclusion. Next Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord and then on June 5 we celebrate the great Feast of Pentecost. In these closing days of the Easter Season our readings, especially the Gospel, change from direct encounters with the Risen Christ to Jesus’ Last Supper Discourses from St John’s Gospel where Jesus assured the disciples that no matter what happened, they would not be left to fend for themselves.

In the Gospel reading we hear today Jesus told his disciples and he tells us that, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John14: 23). For St John love is the foundation of everything. Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, wrote his fist Encyclical Letter, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love) to highlight God’s love for us which he called “the heart of the Christian faith.” By keeping the word of God deep in our hearts our faith can grow and mature. Pope Benedict said, “The love-story between God and man consists in the very fact that this communion of will increases in a communion of thought and sentiment, and thus our will and God's will increasingly coincide: God's will is no longer for me an alien will, something imposed on me from without by the commandments, but it is now my own will, based on the realization that God is in fact more deeply present to me than I am to myself. Then self- abandonment to God increases and God becomes our joy “(Deus Caritas Est, 17).

The Easter Season is about mystagogy, to lead through the mysteries. Mystagogy is part of the Christian Initiation process when newly baptised Catholics are introduced to and participate in the sacramental life of the Church. But mystagogy is so much more than an introduction to the sacramental mysteries of the Church. It is a lifelong process. It is our perpetual discovery of God’s abiding love for us.

O God, you have created us,
 you have called us,
 and you have chosen us to be your people.
You have promised to make Your dwelling place
 within the hearts of all who hear Your words
 and put them into practice.
 Send Your Spirit to bring to our minds all that Your Son,
Christ Jesus our Lord,
did and taught, and empower us to bear witness to Him
 in our own words and deeds.
 We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ
 who lives and reigns with you forever and ever.

Amen

Prayer by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild

Don't Undermine Your Worth

Don't undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.

It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Don't set your goals by what other people deem important.

Only you know what is best for you.

Don't take for granted the things closest to your heart.

Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless.

Don't let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future.

By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.

Don't give up when you still have something to give.

Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

Don't be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect.

It is this fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Don't be afraid to encounter risks.

It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

Don't shut love out of your life by saying it's impossible to find.

The quickest way to receive love is to give love,

the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly,

and the best way to keep love is to give it wings.

Don't dismiss your dreams.

To be without dreams is to be without hope;

to be without hope is to be without purpose.

Don't run through life so fast that you forget not only where you've been,
but also where you're going.

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.​

The Best Day of My Life!

Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever.  There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did! And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger. 

I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts:

the morning dew, 

the sun,

the clouds,

the trees,

the flowers,

the birds.

Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice.

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people.  I'll make someone smile.  I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know.

Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down.  I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. 

I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine. 

And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens.  I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life. And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be... 

the best day of my life, ever!

Make One Person Happy

Try to make at least one person happy every day,

and then in ten years you may have made

three thousand, six hundred and fifty persons happy,

or brightened a small town by your contribution

to the fund of general enjoyment.

~ Sydney Smith

    (1771-1845)

I Choose Joy

Joy is only a thought away. I choose joy.

As I look back on my life, I may notice how my spirits have ebbed and flowed. I may remember days of deep sadness and days overflowing with laughter. There have been periods of optimism and passion, and times of sorrow.

Awareness of my emotions creates an opening for change. As I connect with the Holy Spirit, I feel peace, love and happiness flow through me. I notice that when I change my thoughts, my emotions change. When I am feeling sadness, fear or anxiety, I remember that the choice is mine to keep my mind and heart attuned to the Holy Spirit. My every thought, word and action is an expression of the Spirit within.

I choose joy right here and right now.

5th Sunday of Easter

We Christians do not always reflect the image of Christ to the people we encounter in our everyday lives. Today’s Gospel from John 13:31-35, gives us the bottom-line on Christian discipleship. “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

The challenge in this passage is so huge that for many of us it is easier to put it in the too hard basket and move on to lesser challenges. What is Jesus asking us to do? He is asking us to love everyone, even the Judases in our lives, with the same selflessness, understanding and forgiveness that he offers each and every one of us every day. Try to imagine a world where Jesus’ new commandment is really practiced. St. John had a vision of such a world in our second reading. Revelation 21:1-5A, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, for the old order has passed away.”

The last line of this reading from Revelation is “Behold, I make all things new.” In 2nd Corinthians 5:17 St Paul says, “whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” What God makes new is us. We are new creations in Christ and as new creations we are called to radiate the light of Christ that dwells in us to everyone we encounter. St Paul reminded the Ephesians that “you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produce every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth” (EPH 5:8-9).

This week let our prayer be that everyone we meet will see the radiance of Christ shining through us and know that we are, in fact, disciples of Jesus the Christ.

In Christ your Son, O God of glory,

You are making all things new.

Make this new commandment of love

The very foundation of our lives,

So that, loving you and loving one another

We may show that we are Christ’s disciples.

We ask this through Jesus Christ,

The first-born from the dead,

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

AMEN

Biscuits

A minister was attending a men’s breakfast. He asked one of the older farmers in attendance to say the prayer that morning. The farmer began, “Lord, I hate buttermilk.”

The pastor opened one eye and wondered to himself where this was going.

Then the farmer said, “Lord, I hate lard.” Now the pastor was worried.

But the farmer prayed on, “And Lord, you know I don’t care much for raw flour. ”

As the pastor was about to stop everything, the farmer continued, “But Lord, when you mix ‘em all together and bakes ‘em up, I do love me those fresh biscuits.

So Lord, when things come up we don’t like, when life gets hard, when we just don’t understand what you are saying to us, we just need to relax and wait ‘til You are done fixin’ and probably it will be something even better than biscuits.”

Amen

To Err is Human

To err is human; to blame it on the other guy is even more human. ~ Bob Goddard

We are on a path that leads us to become better people with greater insight and stronger character. A central theme on this path is learning to take responsibility for ourselves, our mistakes, and our choices as we deal with our situations. We can make progress on this path by noticing our defensive reactions when we make a mistake or when someone criticizes us. Our old ways were aimed at shifting the blame or counterattacking to get someone else off our case. Now we are learning how to take on the blame when it honestly belongs to us.

One of the first things we need to learn in taking responsibility is that there is no shame in making a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. But some people don't accept responsibility for them, and others do. We have much greater respect for someone who does. Admitting when we were wrong doesn't mean speaking in vague generalities, saying that "mistakes were made." It doesn't mean saying, "Yes, I did this, but only because you did that." It means saying what we did or didn't do and laying the facts out there for us and others to deal with. When we can do that, forgiveness almost always follows shortly.

Today I will hold back my defensiveness and admit the facts as they are.

God Won't Ask

God won't ask the square footage of your house,
but He'll ask how many people you welcomed into your home.

God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet,
but He'll ask how many you helped to clothe.

God won't ask about your social status;
He will ask what kind of class you displayed.

God won't ask how many material possession you had,
but He'll ask if they dictated your life.

God won't ask what your highest salary was,
but He'll ask if you compromised your character to obtain it.

God won't ask how much overtime you worked,
but He'll ask if your overtime work was for yourself or for your family.

God won't ask how many promotions you received,
but He'll ask how you promoted others.

God won't ask what your job title was,
but He'll ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.

God won't ask what you did to help yourself,
but He'll ask what you did to help others.

God won't ask how many friends you had,
but He'll ask how many people to whom you were a friend.

God won't ask what you did to protect your rights,
but He'll ask what you did to protect the rights of others.

God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived,
but He'll ask how you treated your neighbor​.

Law of the Garbage Truck

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, "Why did you just do that? That guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage -- frustration, anger, disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it​.

Keys to Happiness

1. Adopt a positive attitude

2. Trust in God

3. Appreciate the present moment

4. Accept God’s plan for you

5. Share yourself with others

6. Be aware of the love of others

7. Appreciate yourself

8. Pardon yourself and others

9. Accept change

10. Accept suffering

11. Find humor in your life

12. Validate your feelings

13. Pray often

Little Things

4th Sunday of Easter

Today is the fourth Sunday of Easter usually called Good Shepherd Sunday because the gospel for this Sunday always focuses on Jesus as a shepherd. It is also the 59th World Day of Prayer for Vocations and Mother’s Day. For this day, Pope Frances writes, “Dear friends, on this day in particular, but also in the ordinary pastoral life of our communities, I ask the Church to continue to promote vocations. May she touch the hearts of the faithful and enable each of them to discover with gratitude God’s call in their lives, to find courage to say ‘yes’ to God.” The link between Good Shepherd Sunday and religious Vocations is an easy one to make. The word pastor means shepherd. Pastors try to follow the example of Jesus the Good Shepherd as they lead their congregations to a closer relationship with God and with each other.

Given that there is a shortage of priests, deacons, brothers and sisters, more and more responsibility is placed on lay people to fill the gaps. In many ways this is a good thing. By our baptism we are all called to be Good Shepherds. Parents are called to be good shepherds for their children – Christian formation begins at home. Teachers are called to be Good Shepherds for their students – Christian formation is strengthened by the examples set by educators in our schools. Business people are called to be Good Shepherds for their workers - Christian formation must be sustained in our everyday lives. Whatever our life situation is, we are called to be Good Shepherds.

In the Gospel today from John 10:27-30, Jesus says “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” This passage evokes a number of questions. Do we hear the voice of Jesus when he calls us’? If yes, then how do we respond? Do we ignore Jesus? Do we allow other voices to distract us? Are we afraid to follow Jesus? Each one of us has to answer these questions from our hearts. If we do hear Jesus’ voice and we do follow him, he promises us “eternal life” and that we “shall never perish.” Let’s listen.

Today in a special way we honor the vocation of motherhood. On this day we celebrate our mothers. We thank them for nurturing us and for loving us. and we give thanks for our mothers who made our lives possible.

Gracious God,

We thank you for adopting us into your family 

through the miracle of

your grace, 

and for calling us to be brothers and sisters to each other. 

 Today, loving God, we pray for our mothers: 

 Who cared for us when we were helpless 

 Who comforted us when we were hurt. 

 Whose love and care we often took for granted.

Today we pray for: 

 Those who are grieving the loss of their mother, 

 Those who never knew their biological mother, 

and now yearn for her 

 Those who have experienced the wonder of an adopted mother's love, 

 The families separated by war or conflict. 

 Lord, give them special blessings. 

 Keep us united with you and with each other, 

 so that we can be and become all that we are meant to be.

Amen.

An Answer to Prayers

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island.

The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agreed that they had no other recourse but to pray to God.

However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food.

The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island.

He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"

"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us.

"What you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself."​

Bicycle on Ceiling

A bicycle hanging from the ceiling cannot achieve its intended purpose.

The same thing can be said of The Bible sitting on the shelf in your room!

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.

Then 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.

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.

Be a Good Listener