Two Funerals in this Holy Week....

This is an unusual Holy Week......we attended the funeral of our brother in law's father yesterday on my husband's side. Tomorrow is another funeral for a loved father, son, brother of extended family members on my side.

Attending these services and praying for the grieving family members cannot help but make me think of eternity and my place in it.....my place in life and my place in death. It will come to all of us eventually unless our Lord returns first.

A few years ago a beautiful lady passed away and the poem by Linda Ellis was read at her memorial service. I have been reminded of the importance of just HOW we live our life and how the choices we make impact so many.
 

The following is a poem by Linda Ellis © 1998. Consider the implications for your own life's choices

The 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 the date of her 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 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. (You could be at "dash mid-range")

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 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's being read with your life's actions to rehash...

Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spend your dash??