A EULOGY FOR COUSIN JIM

 

 

 

 

A EULOGY FOR JIM MILLER--------5-19-11

 

 

When something tragic or unforeseen happens in life, we ask ourselves

Why did this happen?  What good can come out of it?

 

But I think the question is:  where?  Where do we find our hope?

Where do we find the strength to carry on?

 

In the Bible, there is a story of a man named Lazarus.  Lazarus is Jesus’

Very close friend, perhaps even his relative.  Jesus often spends time at

Lazarus’ house, with Lazarus, and his sisters, Martha and Mary.  Martha

And Mary send word to Jesus, that his friend, Lazarus, is sick and dying.

By the time Jesus arrives, Lazarus is dead.  Jesus brings Lazarus back to

Life and he lives out his remaining days with his family.

 

With all my heart, and with all my soul, I wish I could bring Jim back.

So he could live out his remaining days with his family.

 

Obviously, I can’t do that.  So I suggest we find our hope in each other.

Why---because Jim loved life, Jim loved to laugh, and have fun.  If Jim

Were here today, he would be working his job at Exxon Mobile---which

He did for over 20years.  He would be riding his Harley, watching NASCAR,

Watching the Steelers game, and probably even pumping down a few.  And

Loving his family.

 

And rather looking back at something that we can’t change, I suggest we look

Back at his 52 & ½ years of life with gratitude.

 

               We say thank you for the beautiful family that he came from:

                Don and Stella Miller and his 2 brothers, Don and Jack.  We say

                Thank You for his beautiful children---Kayla, and Jimmy, and

                Debbie.  We say thank you for his beautiful family he was building

                With his wife Aimee, and her children, Samantha and Megan.

 

And for the extended family who all loved him so much:

 

               Ramona, Donna, Michelle, Ashlee, Paige, Rosalee, and Ray.

 

We look back at his life when he was a child.  Some of his escapades are

Legendary:

 

                        The jumping out of a second story window when he was

                         2 or 3 years old.

 

                         His shenanigans with Uncle Chris.

 

                         Us finding sardine sandwiches some 2 or 3 weeks later---in

                          Drawers in our house---after New Years Eve

 

Personally, I will remember the times he called my Mom during the last 6

Months of her life---how happy it made her---and how much she loved him.

 

So where do we find our hope?  We find our hope in God.  We find our hope

In love.  And we find our hope in family.  We find our hope in each other.

 

And why do we do this?  We do this because we are a resilient family.  We do

This because we are a loving, loyal, and committed family.  We DO THIS

Because we are a family who NEVER GIVES UP.

 

And we do this, most of all, because, that is what Jim would want, and because,

We love Jim.

 

Robert P. Wallman

5-19-11