I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of his 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 he spoke of the second with tears.
But he said that what mattered most 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.

As we look back at the life of Charles Mies, so many things could be said.  Having spoken with many friends and family in the past days, I have quickly come to realize that he was so much more than just a grandpa.

When it comes to friends, the man truly never met a stranger.  He was well read and well spoken.  He could talk with any kind of person and make them feel comfortable.  When it comes to the community, there are too many things to mention.  However, he would want to be remembered as a lifetime member of this church.  From the committees that he served on, to the fire department, to being a scoutmaster, he was always well respected for his ideas and efforts.  I heard someone mention at the visitation last night that he never proposed an idea that was not solid and well thought out.  People greatly respected the input he had to offer on almost anything.

Being a farmer most of his life, his love for the land has always shone through.  He was a very good farmer, and he was a bit ahead of his time, as he tried many progressive techniques before they became popular agricultural practices.  And of course, the walnut trees and the pine trees that he planted on the farm will always serve as a reminder to just how great a "Steward of the Soil" he was.

Last of all is family.  Of course, there is the obvious.  Almost 60 years as a husband, and being a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather and an uncle.  But the most important thing that my grandfather gave to me, which I will never lose, is the pride in my name.  The family comes first.  He raised his family to believe in this, and they, in turn, have raised their families to believe the same.  Whether it was going to the Mies reunion every year, or just knowing the heritage and lineage of the family, over the years, I have come to understand that being a MIES is truly something special.

For it matters not how much we own: the cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love when we're living out the dash.
If we could just slow down enough to consider what is true and what is 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 as we've never loved before. 
If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile,
Remember that this special dash might only last a while.