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.
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He noted that first came the date of birth
and spoke the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
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For that dash represents all the time
that they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
know what that little line is worth.
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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.
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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 can still be rearranged.
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If we could just slow down enough
to consider what’s true and real
and always try to understand?
the way other people feel.
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And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we’ve never loved before.
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If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while?
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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 spent YOUR dash?
