The Eulogy

Eulogies are very hit or miss. They are either very good or very bad. I can't tell you how many bad ones I've sat through over the years. In my opinion, a bad eulogy is one that is all about the person doing the eulogizing and not the deceased. More often than not, that's how they go. Another category of bad eulogies are what I refer to as the "Meatball Eulogy". As you can imagine, a "Meatball Eulogy" revolves around what a good cook the person was, and how they made the best meatballs. I'm not kidding. A good 50% of all eulogies I've heard center on the making of meatballs.

A good eulogy is like finding a diamond in the rough. Every now and then, a person perfectly captures the essence of their departed loved one in a profound and loving way. It's about the love they shared and the lessons they taught that made the lives of others richer, and the world they lived in better. It's hard to do, believe me, but when it's done correctly, it's inspiring.

I heard such a eulogy this morning. It started off a little rough, but it built into a wonderful testament to a life well-lived. As I sat there, I couldn't help but think that if my daughter could say about me the things this woman said about her father, I would have truly lived a good and blessed life.

I've got a lot of work to do.