I was doing my Bible study today and it was about the freedom that is offered in Christ. To truly experience that freedom, we need to rid ourselves of the “old self” and put on “the new self” which is that of Christ. I got to thinking about how I am living my life right now. Daily I TRY to die to my old self, but I know there are MANY things I need to work on. Honestly the Bible study was very convicting. Then I thought about when Christ calls me home – what type of life am I living today? What would people say? I don’t know if you have ever heard of this poem “The Dash” but it is incredibly challenging! Everytime I read it, it makes me ponder my life, the life I am trying to live for Christ, and makes me realize I have a whole lot to work on yet! Let me know what you think of it!
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 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 lose 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.
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’ve 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?
