2022 had been a great year for our family. We were mostly healthy, happy, and relished the joy a new baby brings in their first year of life. Unfortunately we ended the year with the most tragic, unbelievable loss of our friend, Marty.
He often described himself as common, a cowboy, a ditch digger. But you only had to speak to him once to know he was so much more than that. I grew up listening to Marty play guitar and sing about Jesus at church and saw him act as a big goofy kid during water games at VBS. As I grew into an adult he became a friend.
Marty playing “I Cross my Heart” by George Strait, Dec 2005.
He played and sang in our wedding 17 years ago, I helped at his and Mary’s backyard club, I taught his son in youth group and he taught my daughters as their Sunday School teacher for many years. He played a set of music for Ruth’s adoption fundraiser and he wrote us a letter of recommendation to become adoptive parents.
Marty at Ruth’s adoption fundraiser.
Marty and Mary’s example of loving and raising Bethany with grace and humor is part of what encouraged us to say “yes” to our sixth daughter, our sweet and feisty Heidi with intellectual developmental delays.
My friendship with Marty was not unique. He was a genuine person who made everyone feel valuable. I loved our after church chats about lavender farming. I’m sure going to miss those.
Photos from August when we made a party out of helping another lavender farm friend. We ate pizza off the back of his truck and the men got to work pulling weeds while Mary and I harvested the lavender.
It seems fitting that the most comforting words I’ve heard since learning of Marty’s unexpected death are his own. Lyrics to a song he wrote many years ago that have come back to me time and again over the years (I had emailed him from the hospital when we had Hans about this song). //I know a peace, that passes understanding. I know a calm, that can carry me through. I know a joy, that like the sky is never ending. I know a peace; yes and you can, too// //Did you ever stand all alone on a cold and rainy day, with a tear in your eye wondering why life turned out this way? But in the midst of the darkness, Jesus is light, there’s just no place in this world that you’re out of his sight, cause he is the peace that passes understanding.//
What joy for Marty to sing praises face to face with our Savior. But, oh, what a southern gentleman sized hole remains for the rest of us. I sure was looking forward to another 20+ years of friendship.
Marty driving his John Deere in the Solanco Parade several years ago (2018 I believe)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
Thank God we have hope of seeing one another again.
Earlier in that same Thessalonians passage is a great description of Marty:
“Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
Our family chooses a word each year. 2023 has been declared the year of love. Love like Marty.
Marty, who loved and invited people into his life: young and old, rich and poor, country and city.
Marty, who loved by serving others by the work of his hands.
Marty, who loved by leading in worship.
Marty, who loved.
This year our aim is to do our best to love like Marty did. While it won’t be exactly like Marty did (this cowgirl can’t sing or play music) I’ll be sure to do my best to use the gifts God has given me to spread the love of Jesus. To spread the True definition of LOVE. To encourage my kids like Marty did to use their gifts in the church.
So long, cowboy.
It won’t be the same without you. As the obituary stated so perfectly: “His passing leaves a hole no backhoe can fill in the hearts of many.”
https://memorials.groffeckenroth.com/martin-sommerfeld/5106091/index.php
