I am sure alot of you have heard it before. But I am posting it anyway. It was read at a funeral i attended this morning.

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 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?

Hang in there my friend, Dave will be a bright spot in your memories forever...

Great poem. I heard that a few years ago at a good friends funeral. So much truth about such a short time on this earth.

Flashback wrote:
Hang in there my friend, Dave will be a bright spot in your memories forever...

thank you Flashback, I am fine. I always am. He did it right, he did it large and his dash was powerful and bright.

I never get tired of that poem. Every day we live is a gift, guys. You've got a great attitude JW.

Thanks Java, I've never heard that before. It gives you cause for pause. Thanks for sharing.

cass

Gidday Javawave...I haven't heard this one either...makes you consider your mortality.

I heard a guy on the radio recently talking about a similar topic...apparently a friend of his in his final days said...quote: 'I'm not afraid of dying...I'm just afraid of not having lived'.

I'm glad your friend / relative lived right...and that you realised it. Best wishes mate.