It Would Have Been Enough

As far as investments go, memories rank at the top of my list. I think that memories are one of the most valuable investments to make – especially for children. I am so thankful for the rich memories that I have from childhood and it is particularly fun to say as an adult, “Remember when…” Siblings and parents make these memories rich with meaning, and I love sharing memories today with people that I experienced the memory with from long ago. When I visit Isaac in Ithaca it is not uncommon for him to begin reminiscing and asking, “Sarah, do you remember when we used to sleep in the same room and have pillow fights?” or “Sarah, do you remember making alligator milk?” Of course I always remember and remembering makes me content on the inside.

Recently I have thought often upon a song that Mom used to dance to in the kitchen as it played from the tape player of the old boombox. The song was sung by a Jewish woman and continually repeated the word, “Dahyenu.” In Hebrew, “dahyenu” means, “It would have been enough for us.” What an incredible word! I only wish English had a counterpart because I think that I would say it very often.

Anyhow, the song that I remember mom dancing to is apparently sung traditionally at a Jewish Seder and is translated in English to say:

Had He brought us out of Egypt and not judged them,
It would have been enough for us.
It would have been enough for us.
Had He judged them and not done so to their idols,
It would have been enough for us.
It would have been enough for us.

How many things have been given to me that I can so freely say, “It would have been enough?” But God always gives more, always gives in abundance and always in fullness.

It would have been enough if I was only a dream in the mind of God, but I was created. It would have been enough if I was created and given the breath of life and allowed the opportunity to walk for a couple of generations on this earth, but I was given relationships. It would have been enough if I was given a loving father, mother, siblings and friends, but I was given the gift of relationship with God Himself. It would have been enough if Christ had died and allowed me to enter into relationship with God through the forgiveness of sins, but Christ called me His friend. Dahyenu!