What Does Your

I want to thank each one of you for your prayers while I was at my uncle’s funeral in Tennessee. I was able to see family members I haven’t seen in such a long time. Spending time with them made me realize how God has blessed my life. I have a wonderful family and a great bunch of teenagers to work with.

On Friday morning we had services in the cemetery just before my uncle’s burial. As I was walking through the cemetery, I noticed one thing in common (no, not that they were all dead!). The headstones had either one date or two on them. But each stone had one thing in common. They all had a dash after the first date.

I began thinking about that dash. That dash represents the life lived by that person. As a young person you think you are going to live forever. I saw some stones of people who lived a full life to the age of 85 or 66. But I also saw infant tombstones. Their “dash” was never filled.

Then I began thinking about what my dash would represent. What would people who knew me have to say about whom I lived my life for? I want them to say I lived for Christ. But knowing my testimony, that is not how I have always lived.

You, as young teens, think you have your whole “dash” before you. If you were to die today, what would your dash say for you? Would it be that you were someone who focused on God and sought for His guidance in ever aspect of life? Or would people say, “Oh, no. She never wanted to serve others. She never spoke to me about Christ.”

Your tombstone right now has only one date and a dash. You have the chance to change your dash. Start serving and living for God before that second date in inscribed. What do you want your dash to say about you?

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life: It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)