I just got back from a most wonderful funeral service for a good friend, Gregg Martin. He’s my sister’s father-in-law. What makes this so nice is that when he was diagnosed with cancer, his faith became real to him.
As far as I can tell, Gregg had always gone to church, always took his family, loved Gospel music, and had a very good head knowledge of who Jesus Christ is. But it wasn’t until he was told he had mouth cancer that he realized the head knowledge wasn’t good enough. He began to make preparations for his life to end, because somehow he knew that was going to happen when he had his surgery. Listening to his pastor give the service and TJ talk about conversations, I began to see a beautiful story unfolding of a life completely being put in the Master’s hands.
Well over three months ago, Gregg knew he was going to die soon. He wrote a letter to his family and exhorted each one of them to completely allow God to work in their lives and Christ to be their Lord and Savior. This peace that he had about dying was a testimony to the family as it allowed them to say goodbye, knowing that he would soon be with the Lord. “He’s the best tenor voice the angel choir has now,” his mother said at his wake last night. Pastor Tom said someone asked him if they had bluegrass in Heaven. The first thing I thought was “well, if they didn’t before, they do now.” After Gregg surrendered his life to the Lord, he decided that if he got better, he wanted to use his talent playing for His glory. Gregg lived and breathed playing his guitar, and he was even buried with a pick in his hand (he looked really good in his “pine box”).
So this entry is in memorial of Gregg Martin. A good man, a good friend, and now someone I look forward to seeing again when I finally reach my reward. See you later Gregg. I’ll miss you.
-j
I'm Jason, and I like to write.