Trouble Tree

I hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had justfinished a rough first day on the job, a flat tire made him lose an hour ofwork & his electric drill quit, his ancient one ton truck refused to start.As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving he invited me in tomeet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at asmall tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.Upon opening the door he had undergone an amazing transformation. His tannedface was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave hiswife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car.We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him aboutwhat I had seen him do at the little tree. "Oh, that's my trouble tree," hereplied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's forsure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children.So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask Godto take care of them.Then in the morning I pick them up again." Funny thing is," he smiled, "whenI come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as Iremember hanging up the night before."

I wish you enough

Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together. They had announced her departure and standing near the security gate, they hugged and he said, "I love you. I wish you enough." 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 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, the next trip back would 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 just 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.

To all my friends and family past present and future

"I wish you enough"