More Than a Dash: Leaving a Godly Mark
Blog Written by Shelly Stringfellow
Recently, at my husband’s 45th high school reunion, we decided to visit our parents’ graves. Both sets are buried just a few miles apart in the small town where we grew up. The cemetery was quiet, the air still, and the rows of headstones stretched in every direction.
As we walked, I noticed the same pattern on each marker: a birth date, a death date, and a dash in between. That dash—small, simple, and easily overlooked—represents a lifetime. Childhood laughter, hard work, tears shed in private, dreams fulfilled, and plans cut short. Some graves were lovingly decorated, others weathered and bare. Yet each testified to a life once lived.
Shelly Stringfellow, Author
It made me ask: What did they do with their dash? Were they known by many or only a few? Did they accomplish their dreams, or were their lives interrupted by unexpected turns?
The psalmist wrote, “Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life” (Psalm 39:4). And again, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Life is short. But in God’s hands, even the smallest dash can leave an eternal impact.
Every joy and trial, every victory and failure, shapes us and can be used to bless others. As we live our dash, we’re called to worship God wholeheartedly, love others well, be Christlike examples, serve faithfully, and share the Gospel boldly. This is not wasted living—it’s purposeful, eternity-focused living.
One day, your own dash will be complete. When that time comes, what will it say about you? Will it tell a story of faith, love, and service? Or will it simply mark the passage of time?
Reflection Questions
What one thing could you do today to make your dash more meaningful?
Who in your life needs to hear about Jesus before your dash is complete?
Are you living with eternity in mind or simply for the moment?
Prayer
Lord, help me see the value of each day You give me. Teach me to live my dash with intention—loving You, serving others, and pointing people to Jesus. May my life, no matter its length, leave an eternal legacy for Your glory. Amen.