The Dash

The Dash - by Linda Ellis.
The Dash - by Linda Ellis.
I read of a man who stood to speak - at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone - from the beginning------ to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth, and spoke of the following date with tears.
But, he said, what mattered most of all, was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all of the time that she spent alive on earth -
And now, only those who loved her, know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own - the cars - the house - the cash,
What matters, is how we live and love, and spend our dash!
So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you would like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be re-arranged.
If we could just slow down enough, to consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And, be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more-
And love the people in our lives, like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile, Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read - with your life’s actions to re-hash -
Would you be proud of the things they say, about how you spent your dash?

I read of a man who stood to speak - at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone - from the beginning to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth, and spoke of the following date with tears.
But, he said, what matters most of all was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time she spent alive on earth.
And now, only those who loved her know what this little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own - the cars - the house - the cash,
What matters, is how we live and love, and spend our dash!
So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you would like to change?
For you never know how much time is left, that can still be
re-arranged.
If we could just slow down enough, to consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel.
And, be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more - like we never loved before. And, love the people in our lives.
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile, remembering that this special dash might last only a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read - with your life’s action to re-hash - would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash? RCL - 2/16/08.