The Dash

"I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. 
He referred to the dates on her casket from 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."
(poem by Linda Ellis)


Believe it or not I heard that poem yesterday at a presentation - and it brought tears to my eyes.  I have always wondered if I have truly made an imprint in this world.  If I have truly made a difference.  

Many years ago - about 57 of them to be exact - I vowed I would teach - and that I would make a difference in some child's life.  I wanted at least one child to find the adventure in life - the fun. 

But after 20 years - and so many children who have passed through my classroom - on these my last days - I wonder if I did really truly live up to the vow I made so many years ago,

And then as if planned - first one parent - then another and another filed through my office doors with cards and and gifts........... and almost every one of them thanked me for the impact I had had on their child.  

One handwritten card said " ........so if she is a pretty great kid, then I have you to thank for that!"  And another said "For all the children's lives you have touched - thank you" 

It was a very emotional afternoon for me.  I held each child and said goodbye - not just for the summer but forever........ and forever is a very long time..  

I just hope and pray that in this next portion of my life - I will find some small way to continue bringing some joy and happiness to people whom I meet.  

I hope "the dash" between my dates is filled with laughter and joy and love.

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 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 love 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 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 read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

- See more at: http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=12176#sthash.KaQAJ63I.dpuf

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 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 love 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 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 read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

- See more at: http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=12176#sthash.KaQAJ63I.dpufI read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on her casket from 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 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 you spent your dash?