As I passed the flower and plant section in Winn Dixie Thursday morning, I casually told Donna, who is in charge of that department, “Hello.” One of the other employees whispered to me, “Donna recently buried her 5-year-old granddaughter.”  

I’ve known Donna for many years and went back to offer my sympathy. She immediately said, “Mr. Keller, we are at peace knowing that Taylor is in Heaven.” It was a blessing to see someone with so much faith and with the confidence knowing that her precious little angel had gone home to be with her Heavenly Father.  

Donna shared that Taylor was from Pulaski, Tenn. Her parents are Tyler and Taunia (Donna’s daughter) Green, and her sisters are Kayla (13) and Courtney (11).  

She died in an automobile accident with one of her friends who survived. The car was driven by her friend’s mother, who was also killed.  

I’ve never met Taylor or her family, but I’ve known Donna and her husband, Ricky Jacob, for years. Evidently, they have accepted, with much grief, that children are on loan from God, and our responsibility is to raise them with hope of eternal life after death.

Donna shared with me the following, which was written by Linda Ellis and read at the funeral service:

THE DASH

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend,

He referred to the dates on her tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her 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 she spent alive on earth,

And now only those who loved her know what that little line is worth.

The car, 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 is being read with your life’s actions to rehash,

Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?

If you have any questions or comments, please write to Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477, or email hkeller@comcast.net.