We have all seen a headstone, grave marker, tombstone, or gravestone. Their history goes back thousands of years, all though they have evolved over the Years. Around the 19th century, it became typical for your date of birth and death to become etched in stone, separated only by a dash.
The dash represents the time we spent alive on earth. Think about some people you have loved and admired who are now gone; their life impacted you and countless others. Now think about some people you have disliked and despised who are no longer alive; their life too affected you and countless others. What will your dash say about you? How will your dash impact others? How do you want your dash to be remembered? What needs to change in you to alter the story of your dash in a positive way?
Lord, in the time I have left alive, grant me the willingness and ability to live my life in a manner that my dash will speak so loud it doesn’t need words. Let my dash represent an example and not a warning for how to live a life that honors You and blesses countless others.
THE DASH
the poem by Linda Ellis
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning… to the end.
He noted that first came the date of 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 the time they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them 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 that still can be rearranged.
To 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 proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
(Source By Linda Ellis, Copyright © 2020 Inspire Kindness, thedashpoem.com)
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