How many of us get forwards in our email? How many of us hit the delete button and not even look at them? I must admit, I delete almost every forward sent my way. I barely have time to reply to real emails, much less reading dozens of forwards.
My mom sends a few forwards a week, and while I might not open them immediately, I always make time to open them.
The one that struck me this week was about a famous man who had passed away and his belongings were being sold.
As I was reading through the list of his possessions, I noticed one common symbol ~ line after line, after line.
$
$
$
$
I honestly can’t remember the “point” of the email, the dollar $igns set my mind thinking.
Is that really what people believe life is about? $? Is our focus entirely on the $ we have or even how much $ we leave behind when we die?
My heart was saddened at these thoughts.
Many different sayings began running through my head….
“There’ll be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read them. But all that is going to matter is that little dash between them.”
Author: Kevin Welch
“Good moms have sticky floors, messy kitchens, laundry piles, dirty ovens, and happy kids”
Author: Unknown
Looking around our world today, I see less focus on the dash, theย time takenย and more on the money earned and things purchased.
What is it that makes us think $ or things is what will make us or our families happy? The $ and the things won’t follow us to eternity and they won’t bring our families true happiness when we’re gone.
Special moments, every moment of every day, provide the opportunity to make our life matter, and the lives we touch changed!
We weren’t put on this earth to live by and for the dollar $ign. We are here to share Jesus Christ to the world around us! To show His love to everyone we have the privilege to meet!
Think with me for a moment…..
When did $ last bring you true joy?
How did you feel the last time you shared Christ and His love with someone?
The dash is what matters. Not where you begin your life, or even where you end life on earth. It’s what you do in between. <—-Tweet
It’s not a $ you’ll see on the tombstone. It’s a dash. A blank. Only those you’ve known and touched know what it means. <—–Tweet
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Just Me
August 16, 2012 at 6:07 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love the quote about the dash. But I hate the good moms have dirty homes quote. I wrote a whole post about it since you are basically saying that a good homemaker=a bad mom. One has nothing to do with the other.
simplyhelpinghim
August 17, 2012 at 6:03 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
The good moms quote I believe can be taken too literally. I look at it as, there are times when we need to overlook things in the home and spend time with our kiddos. Sometimes a clean house can become our focal point and we miss the time our kiddos need with us. I do believe a clean house is needed and having a messy home doesn’t speak well of us or our husbands, we just need to ensure our kiddos have the time with us that they need. ๐ Blessings!
nicholl
August 16, 2012 at 5:54 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This is so true.
Have a lovely day! Stop by nichollvincent.blogspot.com and say hello! ๐
simplyhelpinghim
August 17, 2012 at 6:01 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
๐ Thanks for stoppin by! I’ll swing by your corner too! ๐
Kelly
August 16, 2012 at 12:23 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This is great! I too am about more than just the money. I appreciate that you shared with us today. Thanks for linking up!
simplyhelpinghim
August 17, 2012 at 5:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
We must be more than the $ sign….Thank you for stoppin by! Blessings!
Falen
August 15, 2012 at 9:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This couldn’t be more true!! Great post!! The question: “when is the last time $ brought you joy?” is an awesome question!! Cause it doesn’t in the grand scheme of things. When I die, I don’t want people to remember what I had or what I bought, but rather what I brought into their life, how I touched their life, and how Christ shone through me.
simplyhelpinghim
August 17, 2012 at 5:55 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes, Christ shining through our lives is what we should focus on others seeing. He is the reason we live! Blessings!
Shell
August 15, 2012 at 8:31 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Think that was a song, too. ๐
It definitely doesn’t come down to $ but I have to admit- life is easier when we have more of it and harder when we have less.
simplyhelpinghim
August 17, 2012 at 5:54 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I don’t know the song :/ Money is a necessity, but it is the love of $ that we must avoid. Blessings!
Where is the ME in Mommy?
August 15, 2012 at 4:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I’ve def seen this forward and it is touching. Thanks for re-reminding me.
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
๐ Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
Joy
August 15, 2012 at 4:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I wish all what I shared about God will be remembered and God’s goodness to me:) Linking for the first time.
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:29 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes, may God be remembered from our daily lives! Blessings! ๐
Kathleen
August 15, 2012 at 4:09 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Your wonderful post reminded me of the rich man who wanted all his gold buried with him and when he got to the Heavenly Gates, St. Peter asked him why he brought pavement! Have a blessed day!
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I had never heard that story! Thank you for sharing! Blessings! ๐
Kelly
August 15, 2012 at 3:18 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Girl, you hit the nail on the head here. It’s all about showing love. I finally realized what matters. What REALLY matters!
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:28 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So very true. Love. God is Love. Blessings!
Joy @ Joy In This Journey
August 15, 2012 at 1:17 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I think it’s so fascinating that your post and the one I read right before yours focus on remembering our mortality and what’s truly important. I missed the memo somehow. ๐
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That is definitely a God thing ๐ Blessings!
Susan Stilwell
August 15, 2012 at 12:58 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Love the dash tweets! It’s sad that we can get so sidetracked with the trivial and miss the important stuff. Thanks for sharing today!
Linking up from Scribing The Journey
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:27 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
๐ Thanks for tweeting ๐ Life throws so much at us, that we are often spinning. We must choose to slow things down. Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
Denise
August 15, 2012 at 12:02 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Ilike this post.
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
TY ๐ Blessings!
happy momma
August 15, 2012 at 11:58 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
This is what has been on my mind lately. We are so marketed to and ovewhelmed with so many things. I have taken a stand against it. I am writing about living a slow life in this world of ours. It is important for me and my family. We cannot live a fully happy christian life until we stop living and playing in “the world”. There are so many voices calling out to us. whom ever yells the loudest in our ear is who we tend to hear,until we quiet it all and hear “The voice of truth”
I am teaching my children to hear the voice of god amidst all the other voices out there. The $ has little effect on me lately because I do not let ruleme. God he is in my world for sure.
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:26 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes, we must slow down for in the fast lane we miss many opportunities God brings our way. Thanks for stoppin by! Blessings!
Becky
August 15, 2012 at 11:53 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Thank you for linking up with us today!
I really like the perspective, it makes us ponder how we spend our days…
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
You’re welcome! Our days, yes we must ponder our days…..Blessings!
Kathy Penney @ Pinner Takes All
August 15, 2012 at 11:47 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Great post and so true! If you think life is about the dollar sign check your priorities. And I also love the dash- heard it at a leadership conference and it stuck with me ever since. Another of my favorites is Don’t wait for a special occasion to use your good china. I think it’s by Erma Bombeck. Point being enjoy life now and don’t wait for some special occasion.
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
That is a new saying to me, I like it! Thanks for sharing! Blessings!
Sarah Van Beveren
August 15, 2012 at 11:20 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
So true. And I have definitely noticed a correlation between the amount of fun my kids are having, and how messy our house is! Thanks for sharing.
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:23 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes, I too have noticed that. Though, I don’t like the house messy so it doesn’t happen very much! LOL! Blessings!
roseann elliott
August 15, 2012 at 11:10 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I want to live my dash to the fullest in Christ…great reminder…blessings~
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:23 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Amen! That should be each Christian’s goal in life! Blessings!
Wayne
August 15, 2012 at 9:37 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Stuff is just that, stuff. People and love are what is important.
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes…..stuff gets you no where….
Mary Beth
August 15, 2012 at 7:56 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
I love that quote about the dash. It really is the in between that leaves the legacy.
Thanks for linking up!
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes, I love the quote as well! It is one of my favorites. What is found between reveals who you really are. Blessings friend!
Nikki @ Simplystriving
August 15, 2012 at 5:43 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Great post! Thanks for giving me something to ponder today — the dash….
I used to get hung up on having to share the Romans Road or something similar to share Christ. The closer I get to Him the more I realize we can show His love in a simple smile to a stranger…in our every day lives.
simplyhelpinghim
August 15, 2012 at 6:45 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Yes! I agree, sharing Christ in a specific way used to terrify me! I am so thankful to know that in my life, I can share His love and word by my actions and I don’t have to follow a script to share His word! Blessings! ๐
Talkin’ the Talk vs. Walkin’ the Walk | Simply Helping Him
October 24, 2012 at 11:09 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
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