How Will You Spend Your "Dash?"

The Dash Poem

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?

©1996 Linda Ellis

This is one of my favorite poems. It is truly something to think about. Are you making your "dash" worth while? Are you spending your "dash" doing God's work? This life of ours really is a short one. You never know when you could take your last breath. It is scary to think about, but it is very real. Make sure you are headed in the right direction. Down the right path. If your not then there is not a better time than now to make that change. While we are all still on time's side of eternity. We all still have a choice. Don't wait till it is too late. Spend your "dash" for him and the reward will be great. How are you spending your "dash?"

-Ben Stevenson