A River, a Radio, and A Rocking Chair

Introduction By Jay S. Miller On January 4th, 2012, Jean Miller took her final breath and stepped into the loving arms of Jesus. It was the end of her earthly journey, yet only the beginning of the legacy she left behind. Thirteen years later, inspired by her unwavering faith and the indelible impact she had on my life, I wrote 2.5 Acres of Faith. That book, released in February 2025, told the remarkable story of my parents, Sterling and Jean Miller—a tale interwoven with profound pain and miraculous triumphs, chronicling their journey from approximately 1973 to the present. But the story wasn’t finished. Shortly after submitting the manuscript for 2.5 Acres of Faith for publishing, we stumbled upon something extraordinary. While rummaging once again through old boxes that had been packed away after her passing, we rediscovered a treasure trove from her personal library: her worn Bibles, countless notebooks filled with handwritten prayers, and notes of wisdom. Yet, among these cherished items, we stumbled upon something we never expected—a hidden gift, tucked away by time itself. A Hundred and Fifty-nine handwritten pages. A manuscript. In 2008, Jean had begun writing a book of her own. It was a work born of her heart, a story that reached far beyond her own life to the roots of our family’s faith. She had outlined her chapters with meticulous care, titled the book, and completed most of what she intended to write. But in 2009, her health began to falter. Diagnosed with kidney failure, she entered a three-year battle that would ultimately claim her life. Her manuscript, unfinished, was left behind—a whisper of the story she longed to tell, waiting to be found. Monday, December 2nd, 2024, was the day Jean’s manuscript was found—over 16 years after she first put pen to paper—I held her words in my hands. In that moment, I knew I had been given a sacred task: to complete what she had begun. The book you are about to read is a collaboration, co-authored across time by Jean Miller and me, her son. Her voice, written before her passing, merges with mine, creating a seamless tapestry of faith, family, and God’s providence. To guide you as you journey through these pages, each chapter has been carefully marked to indicate whose voice you are hearing. In a few places, I’ve added detail to her stories to help convey the depth of her testimony and allow you to more fully experience her journey. Jean titled her book A River, a Radio, and a Rocking Chair. It’s a story that traces the origins of faith in our family back to the 1930s, beginning with her grandmother. Using the metaphor of a river’s flow, the hum of a small AM radio, and the comfort of a rocking chair, she beautifully illustrates God’s grace—a grace that has shaped generations and continues to touch countless lives more than 90 years later. While 2.5 Acres of Faith begins in 1973, this book takes you further back in time, uncovering the foundation laid between 1930 and 1972. Several of the stories you’ll read here are also featured in 2.5 Acres of Faith, but this time, they are told from Jean Miller’s perspective, drawn directly from her original manuscript. This unique perspective doesn't just tell the story—it breathes life into it. It invites you to see through the eyes of faith, to feel the weight of the struggle, and to witness the hand of God at work in the quiet moments and the impossible victories. It offers a richer, deeper understanding of the journey—not just what happened, but why it mattered, and how every step was shaped by a faith that refused to let go. Get ready to step into the prequel to 2.5 Acres of Faith. This is more than just a collection of stories—it is a powerful testimony of God’s hand at work, shaping lives and generations through faith, hope, and perseverance. This is the enduring legacy of Jean Miller—breathed to life once more. A legacy etched in faith, forged in resilience, and echoing through generations. Her story rises from the pages with power, revealing the profound impact of a woman who never wavered, never backed down, and never stopped believing that God could do the impossible. Preface Written by Jean H. Miller The River, The Radio, and The Rocking Chair In a forgotten corner of Louisiana, where the Mermantau River winds its way through fields of pecan trees and Spanish moss sways in the humid breeze, a story was born. A story not of grandeur or worldly fame, but of simple faith, deep struggles, and the extraordinary power of God to transform the ordinary. This book is not about the mighty Mississippi River or the bustling cities it touches; it is about a quieter river, a softer voice, and a humbler setting. It is about a small wooden rocking chair, a crackling AM radio, and a woman whose life became a testament to the truth that God often begins His greatest works in the simplest of places. Grandmother Hunt was not a woman of wealth, influence, or prestige. She was a farmer’s wife, a mother of three, and a tireless worker who faced the unrelenting hardships of the 1930s with grit and grace. Mornings began long before the sun kissed the horizon—her hands already busy kneading dough for bread while the rest of the world still slept. She would haul buckets of water from the well, wash clothes by hand, and work the fields when laborers were few. The land was dry, the crops uncertain, and every dollar stretched to the edge of impossibility. But she never complained. When there wasn’t enough food, she would scrape together a meal from what seemed like nothing—flour, lard, and faith. But what set her apart was not her strength or resilience—it was her willingness to listen, to respond, and to surrender to a voice that broke through the static of her old radio one ordinary afternoon. That voice—boldly proclaiming the Gospel—did more than speak to her ears; it awakened something deep within her soul, a fire she didn’t know was waiting to be lit. Sitting in her rocking chair by the river, she met Jesus—not in a grand revival or a cathedral, but through the simple melodies of hymns and the earnest words of a preacher she would never meet. She knelt on her worn wooden floor and prayed a prayer that would change not just her life, but the lives of generations to come. Because all it takes is one—one heart fully surrendered, one moment of faith—to spark a movement that echoes through time. What began as a faint spark of faith grew into a roaring river—a current of God’s love that flowed from her heart into her family and beyond. She prayed tirelessly for her children and grandchildren, weaving their names into her daily conversations with God. Her faith, born in simplicity, became the foundation for a legacy of transformation. As you turn these pages, you will journey through stories of hardship and hope, loss and redemption. You will see how the seeds planted in Grandmother Hunt’s heart took root and bore fruit in ways she could never have imagined. And you will be reminded of this eternal truth: God’s greatest works often begin with the humblest of people and the smallest of acts. Isaiah 43:19 declares, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” In the wilderness of her life, God brought forth streams of living water. Through a broken radio, a rocking chair, and a quiet riverbank, He made a way where there seemed to be none. This is not just Grandmother Hunt’s story—it is a testimony to the faithfulness of a God who sees, who calls, and who uses even the smallest vessels to accomplish His purpose. It is an invitation to see the extraordinary in the ordinary, to trust that no act of faith is too small, and to believe that God can use you—right where you are—to change the world.