Posted: May 17, 2008, 12:33 PM CST
Hello everyone. Good to be here. And now that I’ve showered, I can introduce myself.
This morning I’m feeling a little sorry for myself and I’d like to share something personal with all of you. This month marks the 25th anniversary of the death of my older brother. He was a good man, an honorable man. He was my best friend, and at 29 years old he was too young to be taken.
Not long after that day a friend came to me with something she found. I don’t know who wrote it but over the years it’s been a source of comfort to me and I’d like to share it with all of you. It’s called The Dash:
I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on his tombstone, from beginning to end
He noted the first date was of his birth, and he spoke of the second with tears
But he said that what mattered most of all was The Dash in between those years
For The Dash represents all the time the he spent alive on Earth
And now, only those who loved him know what the 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 we’d like to change?
For we never know how much time is left; we could be in the Dash end-range
If we could slow down enough to consider what’s true and what’s real
And always try to understand the other way people feel
And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved them before
If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special Dash might only last a while
So when at last the time has come for our life’s actions to rehash
Will we be pleased with the things they say…
About how we spent our Dash?
Rest in peace, bro.
The Dash: A tribute to a good man: click here to read the entire thread »