Merna L. Miller

Merna Lorraine Miller, age 75, exchanged her earthly body for her heavenly body on Wednesday, August 28th, 2002 embraced by all of her children. Merna was born in Minot, North Dakota, on June 28, 1927, to Ada and William Giese. Her brother, Donovan Giese, and his wife Charlene reside in Port Orchard. Merna's husband, Delbert, died in 1977. Their six children, their families, including 14 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren, along with many friends, will forever honor her spirit of selfless giving quietly expressed throughout her life. A memorial service will be held at the Evergreen Washelli Chapel, 11111 Aurora Ave N., Seattle, at noon on Tuesday, September 3rd.

PASSAGE

?This too shall pass,? Mom said with chagrin,

As she swept up the mess six pairs of shoes tracked in,

As the laundry piled up, and the sink overflowed,

And the house needed painting and the lawn had to be mowed.

?This too shall pass,? she said with a sigh

When money was scarce, and expenses were high.

Meatloaf, again, and hand-me-down clothes?

She saw to our needs from our heads to our toes.

She ironed and mended so we?d look our best,

As she helped us to study for the umpteenth test.

When we came in first, or especially last,

It helped us to hear that this too shall pass.

As we flew from the nest, one after the other,

To experience Life apart from our mother,

Her knowing smile, and unspoken advice

Told us, ?I?ve been there, at least once or twice.?

Years later, in the midst of her family fold

Of tykes and teens, young couples and old,

?Savor each moment,? Mom says, ?for, alas,

As you now know, this too shall pass.?

ROOM WITH A VIEW

You always were so healthy, so full of life, so seeing you so helpless just didn?t seem right. How you kept your head so high I?ll never know. I guess you knew you had a better place to go.

I?ll always feel the loss; I have to remind myself that you?re better off. I gotta believe, even through these tears of mine, wherever you are there?s sun that always shines.

Now you?ve got a room with a view, a window to the world. You always had your sights set high and now that you?re gone, your memory lives on. I see you smiling in my mind with angels as visitors dropping by your room with a view.

By Carolyn Dawn Johnson

SEEDS OF TRUTH

Mom, you?ve always loved to play with words, filling in the squares,

But it?s the little scraps of paper, tucked here and there,

The ones pinned to cupboard doors or written with a note

That have lived on through the years, worthy of a quote.

These truths became a peek behind your Secret Garden gate

Pointing toward a path through life that was true and straight.

The seeds of truth took root and blossomed into bouquets

Of reassurance and encouragement along the way.

?Bloom where you?re planted,? you said, and, ?Play the cards you?re dealt.?

?Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without.? Is that how it went'

?Life is hard by the yard; by the inch it?s a cinch.?

So, ?don?t get ahead of your angels,? even in a pinch.

?Smile! No one will notice what you are wearing,? now listen:

?No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.?

?Pain and misfortune are inevitable?misery is optional.?

So, ?choose life at whatever risk,? and be mindful:

?To let life leak out, or to let it wear away,

By the mere passage of time,? it?s true what they say,

?To withhold giving it and sharing it,

Is to choose nothing,? don?t forget.

?Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery; today is God?s gift;

That?s why they call it the present.? Always remember this:

?Worry gives small things large shadows,? alas!

?Place your memories in sunshine,? for ?this, too, shall pass.?

A birthday rose or mug full of candy, afghans in every hue,

Generous gifts, befriending the blind or whoever needs you

Show us that there is contentment in giving yourself away,

Put the words to work, you say: make the best of every day.

You?ve never withheld giving your life and when you were asked why,

?Because Jesus said, ?As you do it unto others, you do it to Me,?? was your reply.

With dignity and grit, you are giving even more,

And the words of life you?ve chosen are pinned on my cupboard door.

By Barbara