I'm Glad You're In My Dash

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 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.

(1934 - 1998)

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's being read
With your life's actions to rehash ...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

If you have received this, it means that you are
truly special to the one that sent this to you.

I am glad that you're in my life and part of my dash.
Send this on to the ones you care about even if it means
sending it back to the one who sent it to you...

From My Dash To Yours.

Laugh long,  live long,
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a GIFT .. That is
why they call it the present.

Comments

[Madeleine]

That is really nice, in fact, I think I will read that at my dad's burial next Saturday!
I'm glad you're in my dash Wayne!

[Douglas]

Amen to what Madeleine said!

[Jon Martindale]

The Dash after the Dash

In the Beginning was the Word.
The Word became Flesh and
Dwelled among Mortal Man.

Mortal man did not comprehend
and sent this Word to a cruel
Crucifixion on a wooden Cross

Three days later the Word returned
and dwelled among his followers
for a period of time before the Ascend.

Now the Son of Man sits Right
On the Hand of God for Eternity.
Beginning – Ascension – Eternity

It is the dash after the dash that
is more important for that is where
we will spend our eternity.

Jon Martindale
www.morningmeal.org

Note: If you use “The Dash after the Dash” in any publication
please mention www.morningmeal.org and if you do not mention
www.morningmeal.org you still have the author’s permission to
publish and share with others in a manner you feel appropriate.

God Bless you and those who read.

Jon Martindale

© June 30, 2006 Morning Meal Ministry

[honey]

can you tell me about a poem "how i live my dash" i heard it once but cannot find it. thanks!