It is easy to go through life and forget how our life intersects with the lives of those around us. The things we do and the things we say all impact others in some way or another. In Christian terminology, this is known more commonly as “our testimony.” Our testimony is how we “advertise” ourselves to the rest of the world. Our testimony should tell the truth about who we are and what we believe. Our testimony should be consistent. How we are on Sunday should be the same as on Monday and Tuesday. Unfortunately, in today’s seemingly self-centered world, there are many that are concerned only with themselves. Some lose sight of the fact that what they do and what they say truly does have an impact on others. How we each lead our lives has a direct impact on those around us.
Everyone has a beginning and an end. When we look at someone’s tombstone, we see inscribed on that tombstone a person’s date of birth and their date of death. Usually, there is a “dash” or “hyphen” separating the two dates. This simple “dash” represents the number of years of that person’s life and all of that person’s life events between birth and death. There are the memories, the tragedies, the triumphs, the career, the education, the family, the hobbies and all the things that made that person who they were. The impact of that person’s life on the lives of those that knew him/her is represented in a single dash.
Have you ever thought about what your “dash” will represent to others when you’re no longer on this earth? When someone reads your birth date and date of death and views that small, seemingly insignificant, dash separating the dates—what will they think of? Did your dash have an impact on others? Did your dash make those around you better? Did your dash make a difference in everything you do? When others think back on your dash, will it be positive or negative?
It’s never too late to change your “dash” for the better.
Courage Thoughts for Today:
- What habits can you change to be more consistent in your daily testimony?
- What are ways you can begin to look outward to others, rather than inward to self?
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