Not Too Much

31 Not Too Much A girl and her grandfather were standing at the train station. It was time for the old man to go. He was very old and they both knew that this was likely the last time they would see each other. From the window by his seat, the grandfather looked down at the girl on the platform and said, " I wish you not too much. " “ What do you mean, Grandpa?" she asked. “ Read the letter I put on your bed. You will understand, " he called as the train slowly began to pull away. They waved goodbye. The girl cried and so did her grandfather. She couldn't wait to get home and read the letter. When she arrived, she sat on her bed and began to read.

Dear Granddaughter, In this world, people feel that more is always better. A faster car, more money, a bigger house. . . but this is not true. Instead of a bigger house and bigger car, I wish you the knowledge to know when enough is enough. For if you are always looking for more, you will never find it. I ask you to remember this old family saying that I learned as a child. Use it when you're saying goodbye to someone who you won't be secing for a long time. I wish you success, but not too much. For success can spoil you. I wish you many years of life, but not too much. For life should always be worth living. I wish you friendship, but not too much. For you need but a few great friends. I wish you pleasure, but not too much. For life requires hard work too. I wish you food, but not too much. For food can killjust like hunger. I wish you all good things in life, but just enough. For enough is better than too much. The granddaughter smiled and put the letter in a special box to save for the day when she might give it to her own granddaughter.