Sunday, June 26, 2011
How do you express so much pain? How do you begin to heal after such a loss? For me it is to write, it seems when I put pen to paper the words flow and my mind begins to wonder to the place where only healing can begin. Just this morning our son called to tell us of the loss of his father-in-law, James West. My husband answered the phone but I could hear the sorrow in Adam’s voice. When Adam married Angela almost eight years ago I can not forget the joy Jim had in his voice of having Adam join their family. Jim and Adam felt immediate closeness, mostly because they loved the same women. It impressed me so much I can still smell the flowers, the hall and see all the smiling people in the room. It was one of the most precious moments of my life. You can not help but love a person who loves your child. I believe Jim and Annette love Adam just as much. You see I believe it is not how much I love Adam and the rest of my children, but how much they are loved by others isn’t that the real job of a parent. To let your child love anyone they want to, that the love you spread is not contained but given over and over again. The empowerment that you can love anybody and everybody. How powerful is that!
Again, over the last years, sharing our son with the West’s has been a great joy. Jim and Annette have been so accepting of us, and have welcomed us into their home and have helped us with anything we have asked of them. We have shared the great joy of our Grandchildren and so many family events. In all of this, I have always admired the depth and strength of Jim and Annette’s family. I have not seen any two sisters closer than Angela and Martha, what a wonderful, loving and close family they have. Jim put his family first in all aspects. Jim was so gentle yet a very strong guy. Jim was the quiet strong type, very much admired. I think also what impressed me was that he and my husband shared a common work ethic, philosophy and work risks. What I mean by that is that it has not been easy to be a banker in the last thirty years. We had the farm crisis of the eighties, the false strength of the nineties and the precarious times over the last eleven years. People have a real different opinion of bankers, but they do not know the half of it. People have often teased us about bankers hours. Annette and I and countless other wives know the real truth. The late night appointments, the travel to local small family farms, the cooperation and support to our small communities, and the dedication to the customers. Jim was all of this and more. How many times I know our husbands have helped others save their homes, their lives, their dignities and countless other things in peoples lives. Every day they have people come before them in the most terrible circumstances and truly help these people put their lives back together. Small town bankers wear so many hats, counselor, finance manager, disciplinarian, friend and most of all trusted confidant. The burden and stress is countless but still when it all works out great the reward is priceless.
I know that in all of God’ s wisdom he does not take away but gives to us the wisdom and courage to face what is before us. Know that all of us are extending all of our love to you, not only today, but for as long as you need the comfort that we can offer, and for some of us it will be always. As you can see by the huge out pouring of care and emotion you are all loved dearly by so many friends and family. Reach out to us at any time you feel you need us, that there will always be a place of solace and compassion where ever you go. And to all of Jim’s family may our prayers reach all of you to help you through this time of great sorrow.
Always All of our Love,
June Rosett-Laures
