"The Dash"

His life was taken suddenly during the night with a major heart attack.

As I sat quietly at the funeral service of a man that I have know all of my life, yet merely as an acquaintance. I watched as the pictures rolled, people poured into the church to honor his memory. I listened intently to the words spoken about this man and I could not get the thought out of my mind of how he spent his last days here on earth...as with any death you often wonder these things. This scripture kept coming to mind 1 Thessalonians 5:2...is says "for you yourself know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night" FEW people have the chance to "somewhat prepare" in their last days, but if death comes like a thief in the night as it did for this very young man of 42, then did he have all of his "things" in order? "a secure destination", "I love you's", grudges removed, anger released etc...etc... This thought has never hit me SO HARD as it did today as I watched his wife of 32, and his daughter of 7 sitting empty and lifeless in the front pew, I though to myself..."THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ANYONE." SO my question to you today is "How will your dash be spoken of?" Ironically, I recieved this poem in an email last week, it made me think, but today in was forever engrained in my mind.

"The Dash"

I read of a reverend who spoke at a 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 the dash represents all the time that she spent alive here on this earth, and now only those who knew and 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, for your dash could be mid-range.

If we could just slow down enough and consider what's true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel.

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 repect, and more often wear a smile... remember that this special dash may only last a little while.

So when your eulogy's being read, with your lifes' actions to rehash...

Will you be honored about what they say of...

"how you spent your dash."

Think hard, reflect back and prepare for the future.

**Happy New Year 2011**

Blessings~

Brandi