The Dash



I read of a reverend who stood to speak
at the funeral of his 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 she reached with Jesus
know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is that we live for Him
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,
Is He really Lord of your life?
The source of your joy and zeal?

Is our selfishness daily growing less...
each day bringing Jesus more?
Are we loving the people in our lives
like we've never loved before?

For if we really loved them
we'd press on past their denial
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.

How many times did we ignore
the Holy Spirit's calling?
How many folks could we have reached
if we had not been stalling?

So, when your eulogy is being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be pleased with the things they say
about how you spent your dash?

And then, when they consider
just how well your time was spent
Will you be pleased with the things HE says,
like "Well done good and faithful servant?"

Written by Linda Ellis.