THE DASH
by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral
of his 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 second with tears, but he said
that what mattered most of all was the dash
between those years.
For that dash represents all 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 how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard, are there
things you'd like to change? For you never
know how much time is left.
(You could be at "dash mid-range.")
If we could just slow down enough to consider
what's true and what's 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 rehash...would you be pleased with the
things they have to say about how you spent your dash?
