"How do you live your dash?"

I was deeply touched by the passing of Elizabeth Edwards. I had followed her battle with breast cancer and all the difficult times that played out in her life with her husbands affair and scandal. Elizabeth handled herself in a classy loving way looking positively despite all that she had been dealt and in the end was able to forgive. I can't imagine knowing your life was coming to an end, knowing that your young children would soon be motherless and having a failed marriage that was played out in the media in a humiliating way. She was able to hold her head up and fight the fight which is truly admirable. May she rest in peace and be greeted in Heaven with her son who had passed away back in 2006. May we all learn from Elizabeth that no matter what difficulties we have in our lives we can chose to keep going with a positive outlook and leave a legacy in this world.

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the date on her tombstone, from beginning...to the end.
He noted that first came her date of birth, and spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between those years (1934-1998)
for the dash represents all the time that she spent alive on the earth
And 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, 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's being read with your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say; about the way you spent your dash?