During your final celebration, what will people say about you?
In the past week, two lovely, sweet, mama’s of two of my friends passed away. As we get older, we end up spending time, not just with friends, but their parents as well. Often if you live far from your own family. The ladies who passed were “mom’s” to me in many ways.
A few days ago, I attended a funeral for one of them at a beautiful country church. It was postcard perfect. She had grown up down the road and the pastor who conducted the service had known her since they were kids. What’s my point here?
Many years ago, someone said to me, “Your life is in the dash”; meaning the dash between your first day on Earth and your last. That’s a very small space for what is packed in there if you are fortunate to have a long life. I sat in the service and listened to stories about her life and kind things she had done, something the pastor said really rang true. He said “She lived a life of love.”
When we boil it down, it comes down to love. Sure, we heard about her accomplishments, but her real treasure was sitting in the pews; her children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. Everyone whose life she had touched in some way. That’s how to win at life. Love people. That’s it.
One of the last songs played was I’ll fly away. As we sang the song by her graveside, there were birds soaring high in the sky. It reminded me that this is not my home, just a stop on my way home. That’s my goal, to live a life of love.
As I celebrate special occasions and holidays with family and friends this season, I am going to take a page from a sweet lady’s book and just love all the people around me. What about you? Let’s make that “dash” really count. Starting today. GO!
