Oh my beautiful mother!  She was taken from us much to early and in a cruel way; ovarian cancer in 2008.  The day before she died I was blessed to give her a sponge bath in bed just as a new mother would give her newborn child one.  So slow and gentle and calming.  We had a special conversation that encompassed her never ending faith and the journey she was given in life.  I was still not able to accept her impending death.  She had.  She did not say, “Why me?” The Lord had walked beside her through the sickness and in every aspect of her life and knew she would be welcomed into Heaven by her Savior with open arms and her just reward would be received.  Mary Elizabeth Lunak 10/2/1943 – 6/29/2008.  She lived.  The dash says it all. 

I have paused to reflect many times over the last few months and thought about my own dash.  What will my dash look like on my stone?  Will it be somewhat curly assuming an up and down life leading to the date on the right side?  I realize the right hand date can come at any time.  Having a serious medical problem will do that to you.  I want to believe that the dash will say, “You have lived a good, prosperous life.” I though would beg to differ.  I have made a huge amount of mistakes over the years.  I would like to believe I would give up my right leg and arm to go back and change those mistakes.  But then again those mistakes are part of my journey and have been teaching moments and opportunities to grow from.  I like to think they aid in flattening out my dash and keep me on track from leaving that dash to appear like life was such a bumpy ride.  My dash shows me having survived 4 teenagers and a few moves.  It led me into emergency medical service jobs and an unfortunate car accident that left me unable to do the job thus pushing me into 911 dispatching.  After learning through some poor decisions in relationships I allowed myself to be truly loved by a man who stands true in his promises and loves me unconditionally.  My stone will hold two dashes to show our marriage dates.  That dash will have an exact date for one of us.  One of us will be alone to remember the other and all the memories we made and hold so close within our hearts. 

I have stood strong on my dash knowing who my Lord is just as my mother did and know when the right date comes I will also be greeted by my loving Father.  My dash may not tell my story to anyone walking by but those that know me may know parts of what my dash says.  I know my mother’s dash; her story.  What does your dash say?  Will your loved ones be able to tell your story one day and emulate with love that journey you took?  For me, I intend to live out my dash.  (By the end of year, Adair in the picture, who had a special relationship with her grandma, will add more love to my dash with the birth of her first child…how full of joy my mother would be holding Adair’s child).