At his funeral, a poem was read - The Dash by Linda Ellis. Due to copyright, I cannot post the poem here, but I am going to share an excerpt:
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.
From there, the pastor talked about how those numbers on the tombstone aren't the important part. It's the small dash in between that symbolizes life - that tiny line is your legacy.
My dad's dash was one full of laughter, friendships, and love. I hope that I am able to make as lasting of an impression on my children as my Daddy did on me.
And that has me thinking... What would be in my dash? What impact have I made on the world?
I'm a momma. Maybe not Mom of the Year, but I am learning every day what it takes to be the mother that my children need. I try so hard to give them what they need, and teach them how to be the amazing people that I know they will grow up to be. I sneak Sammy the occasional bites of chocolate so he can remember that life is sweet. I tell him "no" to teach him that life is not all about getting what you want, but appreciating what you have. I set boundaries so my children know that certain behaviors will not be tolerated. I play with them until we are all out of breath, just so the lesson of "enjoy life" will stick with them forever.
Even if I accomplish nothing else in my lifetime, I know that I have made an impact on the lives of my little ones, and that alone is enough for me. As long as I can continue learning as they learn, as long as I can teach them the lessons that I have finally figured out, and as long as they understand that it is ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them - then I have made a huge difference.
So what kind of impact have you made on the world? What would your "Dash" say?
And that has me thinking... What would be in my dash? What impact have I made on the world?
I'm a momma. Maybe not Mom of the Year, but I am learning every day what it takes to be the mother that my children need. I try so hard to give them what they need, and teach them how to be the amazing people that I know they will grow up to be. I sneak Sammy the occasional bites of chocolate so he can remember that life is sweet. I tell him "no" to teach him that life is not all about getting what you want, but appreciating what you have. I set boundaries so my children know that certain behaviors will not be tolerated. I play with them until we are all out of breath, just so the lesson of "enjoy life" will stick with them forever.
Even if I accomplish nothing else in my lifetime, I know that I have made an impact on the lives of my little ones, and that alone is enough for me. As long as I can continue learning as they learn, as long as I can teach them the lessons that I have finally figured out, and as long as they understand that it is ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them - then I have made a huge difference.
So what kind of impact have you made on the world? What would your "Dash" say?
