Beautiful Words
THE DASH
By Linda Ellis
I read of a reverend 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 spend 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’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
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’s being read
with your life’s actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent your dash?
TO MY CHILD . . .
Author Unknown
Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and
laugh when I feel like crying.
Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear,
and smile and say how perfect it is.
Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick
you up and take you to the park to play.
Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let
you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.
Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the
computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.
Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble
when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you
one if he comes by.
Just for this afternoon, I won’t worry about what you are going to be
when you grow up, or second-guess every decision I have made where you
are concerned.
Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I
won’t stand over you trying to fix them.
Just for this afternoon, I will take us to McDonald’s and buy us both
a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.
Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story
about how you were born and how much I love you.
Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get
angry.
Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the
porch and count all the stars.
Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss
my favorite TV shows.
Just for this evening when I run my finger through your hair as you
pray,
I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever
given.
I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their
missing children; the mothers and fathers who are visiting their
children’s graves instead of their bedrooms; and mothers and fathers
who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly,
and screaming inside they can’t handle it anymore.
And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter, a
little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him
for nothing, except one more day.
MAY YOU ALWAYS FEEL LOVED
Author Unknown
May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always
understand.
May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give
you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with
optimism and courage.
Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will
always be there, even when you feel most alone.
May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of
peace.
May a kind word, a reassuring touch, a warm smile be yours every day
of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them.
Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who know hate, and let that love embrace you as
you go into the world.
May the teaching of those you admire become part of you, so that you
may call upon them.
Remember, those whose lives you have touched and who have touched
yours are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than
you would have wished.
May you not become too concerned with material matters, but instead
place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart.
Find time in each day to see the beauty and love in the world around
you.
Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of us is
different in our own way.
What you may feel you lack in one regard may be more than compensated
for in another.
What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your strengths
in the future.
May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.
Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.
May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by
yourself, and not be dependent on an other’s judgments of your
accomplishments.
May you always feel loved.
