The Dash - Linda Ellis

.

There was 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 her date of birth

and spoke the following date with tears

but he said what mattered most of all

was the dash between those years

.

for that dash stands for 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

.

we'd 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 you eulogy is being read

with your life's actions to rehash

woudl you be proud of the things they say

about how you spent your dash?