Tag Archives: love
The In Between
The following is a poem by Linda Ellis and contains her copyright at the end of it. It is a lovely poem about life and death and everything in between.
The Dash
by Linda Ellis
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end
From the beginning to the end
He noted that first came her date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
Was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
Might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
About how you spent your dash?
© 1996 All Rights Reserved, Linda Ellis
This entry was posted on Friday, July 28th, 2006
My reason for sharing this poem today is for the many people in my life sphere who are grieving the loss of a loved one…a daughter, a sister, a husband, a wife. May it also serve as a reminder that those we love have a dash as do we ourselves. May this lovely poem be the blessing that I’m sure it’s author meant it to be.
A Letter to the Me I Used to Be
Dear You:
By “you” I mean the me I used to be. I miss you…I mean, really miss you. I miss your energy, stamina, strength. I miss the loves you shared and what those loves encompassed; caring, sharing, camaraderie, hugging, kissing, loving, walking, talking; in fact, just being together.
Do you remember those wonderful years of dancing, romancing, cottaging, boating, traveling…remember breakfast in bed? Of course you do or this letter would not be taking shape.
The years of motherhood and entrepreneurship were so time consuming and fulfilling…so satisfying and all encompassing.
The me I used to be no longer exists…instead, another me has emerged; quieter, more patient, slower in movement and thought; still gregarious but less so; more spiritual, maybe more thoughtful; still have the love, but no one to share it with.
And so, it is with fond remembrance that I write to you, to tell you that I appreciate all that you were, and will never really say goodbye to…
The Me I Used To Be
It’s Saturday
It’s Saturday, do what is best for you and those you love, and enjoy the day in every way.
A Prayer for Us
This prayer is one of my favorites. It is Ephesians 3:16-21
16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,
18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
The Clock is Ticking
Our pastor gave an interesting (as always) sermon on Sunday titled, “The Clock”. He opened with, “The clock is ticking. Can you hear it?” He was talking about the clock Jesus heard, ticking away the last week of his life on earth…the divine clock…heaven’s clock, and how little time he had left to prepare those who loved him for what was to come.
Today we learned that our former mayor, Rob Ford, succumbed to the cancer that, in a sense, started his clock ticking eighteen months ago. Did Rob hear his clock ticking? I believe he did. A few months ago he made this statement: “If I pass before my time, I just ask people to please try to help out Dougie and Stephanie and Renata in any way you can,” he added, referencing the names of his wife and two children.
Likewise, when Jesus, from the cross, saw the anguish of his mother, he in effect told one of his disciples to look after her. This then from John:19: 25But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
Here is a tiny passage from Sunday’s sermon:
Recently I received an e-mail. One of those that’s been forwarded a number of times. It was written by an elderly man approaching the end of his life. He said that he had “no questions, no doubts, no fear.”But then he went on: “A few [of you] let me know early in our friendship that religion would not be part of our conversation and I tried to respect this. To some, religions are a group of rules [which] if practised may make us good enough to earn eternal life. If that is the criteria, I would not qualify. My assurance is not based on religion but rather a gift with no strings attached, as described in Ephesians [“For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not your own doing. It is the gift of God.”] The benefits of a gift are not realized until accepted. I accepted this gift years ago, so death is not something to fear.”
While the clock is still ticking let us remember to make each day and each minute count…live, love and be happy.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air. Have a blessed and love-filled day:)
Forever and Ever, Amen (A Love Song)
No, this is not about The Lord’s Prayer. It is about a love song which I first heard at the wedding of one of my God-daughters in 1987. Here are the words, sung by Randy Travis, that have played in my mind over the years since that time. I’m posting it for all the loving Valentine people who are still celebrating their love whether for one year or sixty. Happy Valentines Day.
Forever and Ever, Amen
You may think that I’m talkin’ foolish
You’ve heard that I’m wild and I’m free
You may wonder how, I can promise you now
This love that I feel for you always will be
But you’re not just time that I’m killin’
I’m no longer one of those guys
As sure as I live, this love that I give
Is gonna be yours until the day that I die
Oh, baby! I’m gonna love you forever, forever and ever, Amen!
As long as old men sit n’ talk about the weather
As long as old women sit n’ talk about old men
If you wonder how long I’ll be faithful
I’ll be happy to tell you again
I’m gonna love you forever and ever, forever and ever, Amen!
They say that time takes it’s toll on a body
Makes a young girl’s brown hair turn gray
But, honey, I don’t care, I ain’t in love with your hair
And if it all fell out, well, I’d love you anyway
They say time can play tricks on a memory
Make people forget things they knew
Well, it’s easy to see, it’s happenin’ to me
I’ve already forgotten every woman but you
Oh, darlin’! I’m gonna love you forever, forever and ever, Amen!
As long as old men sit n’ talk about the weather
As long as old women sit n’ talk about old men
If you wonder how long I’ll be faithful
Well, just listen to how this song ends
I’m gonna love you forever and ever, forever and ever, Amen!
I’m gonna love you forever and ever, forever and ever
Forever and ever, forever and ever, Amen!
Twenty-nine years later my God-daughter and her husband are still living their wedding song.
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/randy-travis/forever-and-ever-amen-lyrics/#6GPAkquB8DPfsAdU.99
Love Happens
That’s the name of a movie I watched last night, starring Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, and Martin Sheen, among others. It’s a romantic drama about an inspirational author who helps people deal with their grief after losing a loved one, while all the time harboring his own.
There were some offensive language issues to get past, but the plot was good, Jennifer was her usual relaxed and believable self, and Martin Sheen closed the decidedly moving movie with some gentle humor.
It is a movie that brought tears to my eyes, a smile to my face, and a few outright bursts of laughter. It is a feel good movie that I will definitely watch again.
This is not a review by any means…just another form of feeling the love. With Valentine’s Day just ahead, feeling the love is a good thing.
Many Kinds of Love
How often do we think love is out the window when someone or something comes along to prove otherwise? It has happened to me a few times in my lifetime, and just recently it has happened again. Just when I was mourning the perceived loss of an object of my affection, this appeared on the screen of my life and love soared to a new height once again. Does that make me fickle? It doesn’t mean that I have given up on one of my other loves, it just means that there is room in my heart for many kinds of love. Scenes like this make me happy, and happiness is another form of love. This photo was posted on Facebook yesterday, and I had to share it. I just love it!
My Precious Life 