Enough

Last night as I was preparing dinner, I pulled a bowl down to use.  This bowl was made by my husband, the potter.  His name and Louisville, KY are carved into the bottom of each of his bowls.  I asked him several years ago to make a bowl that said "Enough".  As our family grew, it was my prayer that we would always have enough.  And we did.  Enough food to go around.  Enough of his patience and my creativity to mold three young kids into the fine adults they have become.  Enough to pay the bills.  Enough love to cover for our shortcomings.  Enough laughter to make life tolerable.  Enough sense to stick together.  Enough health to think we were going to live to old age. Enough in a world of excess.  Enough.  When I first pulled the bowl from the cabinet and saw his sweet engraving in the bowl, I crumbled and could only think that I did NOT get enough.  Not enough time to grow old and get that Winnebago together.  Not enough medical intervention to stop his rapid decline.  Not enough  But then I realized we did get enough.  Not as much as we might have wanted, but we got enough.  Enough time and love and resources to fill a lifetime, in 20 short years.
And we didn't just have enough.  I had asked him recently to make me another bowl that said Plenty. We not only had enough, we had plenty.  Plenty to share, plenty to enjoy, plenty of mercy and grace to make up for our shortcomings, plenty of love no matter what.  We thought we had plenty of time. 
Tonight I have just ached and moaned and cried and told him to get back here right now.  I am setting out my bowl- it's a little prayer for enough comfort and care to limp on.