14 July 2012

Why?

We live our lives, possibly marry and have children and grandchildren.  We pass on our DNA which is a melding of the DNA of our ancestors and are told we have our father's eyes or our grandmother's nose but what do we know of them as a person? 
 
When I started to trace my family tree I looked for names of my relatives, dates of their births, marriages and deaths but I felt like there was something missing.  What else was there to find?  The person my ancestor had been, that is what was left!  The following writing was posted on a genealogy mailing list.  It was written anonymously but shares my feelings of what genealogy is about, filling in my ancestors dash!
 
 SPENDING YOUR DASH?
 
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. (1930 - 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.

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 action's to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

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