I have 'enough'

There are things I want.  There will ALWAYS be things that I want.  However, I came to the realization during a rough patch in our lives that I really do have 'enough.'  I have a house to live in.  I have a wife that loves me.  I make enough money to pay the bills and have a little bit left over.  I have children that don't hate me anymore. I have a job that I really do love.  Really, what more is there in life?

It wasn't always that way.  We lived the life where we were one paycheck from the street and a $20 bill was a big deal.  I became an expert at knowing exactly how long it took a check to clear depending on where I sent it.  I knew exactly how long I could hold off paying a bill in order to use THAT money to pay a different bill.  We got an answering machine so we could screen our calls.  We cut EVERYTHING we could, and what was left was very difficult to pay.  We made it through that time, though.  I REALLY wanted more then.  I wanted to be able to answer the phone.  I wanted to have a decent Christmas.  I wanted to provide better for my wife and children.  Looking back though, I realize that, even then, I had 'enough.'

Today I am involved in some social services where I meet people that really don't have enough.  Children that don't have enough love or support.  I've met mothers/fathers that don't have a place to live or enough to feed their children.  I've met people who don't have enough compassion NOT to hurt their children.

I can't explain how liberating it is to realize that I have enough.  When the administration decided that my pay should be adjusted downwards, I was able to take it in stride, realizing that I still had enough.  As the organization contemplates an additional 20% cut in my pay, I am able to not fret too much, knowing that I will still have 'enough.'  Sure, we will have to trim some things, and it will be painful, but my family and I will still be fine.  In truth, if we had to go back to $20 being a really big deal, I wouldn't be happy about it...but my wife would still love me, my children would still not hate me (OK, they love me), and we would weather whatever we needed to because we've done it before, and we know HOW to do it. 

It's nice to be able to say, "I have 'enough."