To Encourage Kindness

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 his casket from beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of his 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 he spent alive on earth.

And now, only those who loved him 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 would 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 is 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 have 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 your spent your dash?