RICHARD LEE KELLEY
1934-2013
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on his tombstone
From the beginning…to the end.
He noted that first came his date of birth,
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
That he spent alive on earth…
And now only those who loved him
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars…the house…the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard…
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
D. L. Moody once wrote: “Soon you will read in the newspaper that I am dead. Don’t you believe it. I will be more alive than ever before.” We didn’t lose Richard Lee Kelley, one of the finest men I have ever known because he is with the Lord. He is more alive today than ever before because of his faith in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:8)
The fruit of the spirit, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control were all exhibited in Richard Kelley’s dash here on earth because of his faith in Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior. I can hear Jesus saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Come and enter into the joy of the Lord.”
LIFE LESSON: Our faith and personal relationship with Jesus Christ will determine how we spend our dash. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3: 5, 6) That was how Richard Lee Kelley lived his dash.
Richard and Nancy Kelley have been faithful followers of Jesus Christ for many years and have been attending our Growing in Grace Bible study for 10 plus years. Please keep Nancy, his wife of 55 years, in your prayers.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. You are great partners in Christ.