Thursday, August 27, 2009

Life is a Dash

The saga of the chickens continues at my house, but that’s not what this post is really about. We do have 16 new biddies that arrived last Friday. It's quite amazing to see how fast chickens grow. Just two months ago, these fellas (who are not my friends, just for the record)
looked like this:
Another little guy that has grown really fast is my daughter-in-love’s Morkie puppy, Bunker. I'm keeping him while the happy couple celebrate their first anniversary with a trip to Hawaii. (I tried to fit in the suitcase but that was not to be.) In Feb. when I kept him he looked liked this:
He’s grown like a weed:
It was hard to get pictures of these animals as they don’t stand still. The shutter on my camera is not fast enough.

Yesterday, I attended the memorial service for a friend’s husband. My friend delivered an amazing tribute to her husband. She started with parts of the well-known poem “Life Between 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 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 that dash represents all the time
that she spent 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”.

Whether it’s children or chickens, puppies or even your own mirror that mark the quickly passing time; in the midst of the busyness, may you experience the unhurried rhythm of grace.

9 comments:

sara said...

loved this! Thank you for the reminder to slow down and enjoy what God has blessed me with today!

Uncommon Blonde said...

That is beautiful! Chicks are kinda cute and bunker has gotten big but what makes me sad is that in a few months we can do this comparison with Rosebud

Robin Lambright said...

I just had a very similar moment.

Well said, thanks for sharing!

http://rlambright.blogspot.com/2009/08/finally-finished.html

Shelly Wildman said...

O.K., I want that puppy!

Thanks for sharing that beautiful poem. We're going through some tough stuff here and need to be reminded of that. Love to you, friend.

Getting Healthy Together said...

I just figured out why time seems to "dash" by! I already have dates scheduled for 2010. Thanks for the reminder to pay attention along the way.

Merrie said...

So true! Thanks for the reminder and also, the prayer for grace. I need it in abundance!

Pinkshoelady said...

All I can say is WOW!
Thanks for sharing this with us.
I was both touched with cutness and challeged in Spirit.
Pamela

Edie said...

Thanks for the "dash" reminder. I just love that.

Isn't it funny how baby chicks are so cute but not after they are grown? I suspect that's when they stopped being your friend and now they are your fiend. lol.

We had chickens when I was growing up. The only thing I remember about them is bringing home some baby chicks and one of them pooped on my hand. I was not pleased.

Hope you're having a good weekend!

http://focusyourbiz.blogspot.com said...

As I am caring for my 87 year old father who dutifully goes to radiation every day and chemo every week, his words of wisdom remind me how much we miss when we don't stop and take time to record the "dash" between the years....Thank you for posting this....Marlene