The dash in between

I heard it said that there are two important dates in your life, the day you are born and the day you die. I have heard someone else say those dates are not important. What is important is the dash in the middle, what you do in between life born and death. But I disagree. I believe it is that which you leave behind, your footprint on mankind, your legacy. We live in a society that says live big, live loud, live full. We are to pack as much into our day and lives as we can. We live for the moment, in the here and now. There is no time to think about the future, or if we do, we want to be remembered for something great. We want to have made a difference in the world while we are still living. It is much harder to make a difference after death. That means making such an impression while living on others that what you believed in, lived for, dreamed of is carried on through generations even though you have died. Still impacting people long after your body has returned to ashes. My son did that. Jacob's birth, 5 weeks premature, and death, far too early, was for a short period of time. His two important dates, September 13, 1987 to February 20, 2010. A very short time span. He lived life to the fullest and packed a lot into those years. His dash in life. But those days will be forgotten by many and never thought of again. But what he taught me and others will last far past. Jacob taught me to love all. To not judge based on their beliefs, their actions, their dress, or their culture but to look beyond that to their heart. To the fact that they are worthy of being loved just because they are another human being. They do not have to earn that love. They owe me nothing beyond the fact that they are a human being who is far more than their outward appearance or thoughts. He taught me to look beyond the physical and to look deep into the heart and to meet their needs. Why? Because that is the kind thing to do. It isn't about laws or rights. It is about being kind. Kind enough to put our needs aside to meet a fellow human being needs. He also taught me to do this without strings attached. To give, to not ask questions. They owe me nothing. They don't have to earn the right to be loved by me or for me to help them. I help because that is the kind thing to do. I help too because I as a child of God have been told do so. To be obedient. When Jacob told me he gave and how they used it was between them and God and he was just doing what God had told him to do, be kind and help out a fellow human being, be a little Jesus to them I truly thought I got it. But to put that belief into action is a lot harder. So every time someone calls and asks for help and I think, "if you would just get a job, or seriously do you know what causes pregnancy, if you would just manage your money a little better" Jacob gently reaches my soul and reminds me, "Mom, God has called us to reach out, no questions, no judgement, no strings attached. They do not owe you anything. It is between them and God. Mom, be obedient," he lives on teaching and reteaching me every day that I am no better than anyone. I have no right to live in a big home with fancy things. It is mine temporarily. I have been given my worldly things to be able to help others. Make an impact on their life. And in a moment everything I have can be taken and I could be that person standing there asking for help, trying to keep my dignity, trying to feed my family. Every time a bag of food is taken to a person in need my son's legacy is making an impact, sure on them, they are being fed, but on me, love unconditionally, no judgement, not strings. That is what is important. Leaving a mark so deep on another person's soul that you are constantly growing them, impacting, teaching, loving them well past this temporal life. Thank you my son for being born, for living a full life, for dying and now living the Dream in Heaven but still making an impact on my life and others. Jacob's Cupboard established Sept 13, 2010 nourishing souls one bite at a time. I love you my precious son. What impact will your life leave?