read my Fathers Funeral 8 1/2 months ago.
Life that matters
Ready or Not, someday it will all come to an end
There will be no more suprises, no minutes, houors, or days
All the things you collected whether treasures or baubles, will pass to someone else
Your wealth, fame and temproal power
will shrivel into irrelevance
It will not matter what you owned or what you were owed
Your grudges, resentments, frustrations and jealousies will finally dissapear
So too your hopes, ambitions, plans to-do lists will expire
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away
It won't matter where you came from or oon what side of the tracts you lived at the end
It won't matter whether you were beauriful or brilliant
Even your gender and skin color will be irrelevant
So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured?
What will matter is not what you bought, but what you built;
Not what you got, but what you gave.
What will matter is not your success but your signifigance
What will matter is not what you learned but what you taught
What will matter is every act of integriyt, compassion or sacrifice
that enriched,empowered or encouraged others to emulate your example
What will matter is not your competance, but your character
What will matter is not how many people you know,
but how many people will feel a lasting loss whn you're gone.
What will matter is not your memories, but the memories of thosethat live in those that loved you
What will matter us how long you will be remembered , and by whom and for what
Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
it is not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
This took a while to write because the tears kept me from seeing the screen. I will never forget the last time I saw my Daddy smile, was when my youngest, 8 year old daughter hugged her near death grandfather and said "Grandpa I will never forget you". He smiled for such a very long time, at a time when he was barely even moving. He watched her every movement and looked into her eyes.
Death is certian for everyone, it is part of life. So we all must try to live a life that matters.