The Dash

Today Bob and I attended the memorial service for Richard Grace, Sr. It was a beautiful service, honoring Richard's life and his tremendous love for his family. His four children, three son-in-laws, one daughter-in-law, and each of his seven grandchildren shared about his life.

Whenever I attend a funeral/memorial service, I always wonder afterwards what people will say about me someday when I'm gone. I also always think of the following poem (that I'm working on memorizing) when I attend a service. Read through it; it will only take a minute. Hope it means as much to you as it does to me.

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 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
That can still be rearranged.

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 rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?