If you have a prayer or a thought that you want to mention here or send to someone who you believe is deserving please use my column to reach special people who would go out of their way to say a special prayer on your behalf for that someone you care about – Marty Martel

.WHISNews21 Prayer Line and thoughts for Tuesday June 25, By Marty Martel.

I attended yesterdays funeral services for my friend Keith Adkinson, and it was a Celebration of Life.  The guest list read like a Grand Ole Opry schedule with so many of Keith’s friends in attendance to say our goodbye, and I know that Keith was not disappointed.  Flower arrangements were more than beautiful, they were a sign of love and peace.

Keith’s wife Jett, was strong throughout the service and greeted each and everyone who came to pay their last respects to Keith.  Please keep Jett in your thoughts and prayers that the Blessed Lord will take her hand and walk with her through this time of sadness at her loss, and give her the strength to know that she has so many of us that are here for her as she knows.

To list the names of those in attendance would be impossible for me to do because there were so many and surely I would miss someone, but the chapel was filled and overflowing with family, friends, many artists, and music industry people.  The following is what stood during the service:

SERVICES OPENED WITH HANK WILLIAMS SR. “I SAW THE LIGHT.”  BUT HANK SR. GOT PLENTY OF HELP FROM ALL THOSE IN ATTENDANCE FOR KEITH, BECAUSE WE ALL JOINED IN ON THE CHORUS AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL FEELING OF HOW WE LOVE KEITH.

BAILLIE AND THE BOYS SANG “I’M SO LONESOME I COULD CRY.”  BEAUTIFUL HARMONY SENT CHILLS THROUGH ALL OF US.  EVERYTHING ACAPELLO WHICH MAKES IT EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL.

HELEN CORNELIUS SANG A BEAUTIFUL VERSION OF “THE ROSE.”  SHE GAVE AN AWESOME INSPIRATIONAL LIFTING TO ALL IN ATTENDANCE.

JIMMY FORTUNE SANG “HOW GREAT THOU ART” AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VOICE THIS MAN HAS.  HE BROUGHT ALL OF US TOGETHER WITH A SOULFUL RENDITION OF PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST REQUESTED HYMNS IN OUR LIFETIME.  THIS MAN’S VOICE IS AWESOME AND HE GAVE HIS ALL FOR KEITH AND FOR JETT.

The service lasted 40 minutes and knowing Keith, that is exactly what he would want.  Rev. Sid Leak officiated the services and spoke words of consolation for Jett and to all present, while able to bring lighter moments of his friendship with Keith.  It was wonderful to see so many friends gathered once again, but as always it seems to happen for a funeral, and that is sad because I wish it would happen other than a time of sadness and loss.

I have stories of my friendship with Keith and Jett, but most of us do.  I have Jett in my prayers for the sadness she will go through the loss of her love.  God Watch Over Her.

For a Blessing on the Families of the Land:Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who sets the solitary person in the comfort of families; I commend to your continual care the homes in which your people dwell. Put far from them, I beseech you, every root of bitterness, The desire of boastful vanity, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh; Turn the heart of the parents to the children, and the heart of the children to the parents; And fill us all with true love and charity, so that we put aside petty differences And act with kind affection and the sympathy of brotherly love; Through Jesus Christ our Lord – Amen.

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Little Jimmy Dickens: Please keep in your prayers and prayer lines Little Jimmy Dickens.  Sending him cards and well wishes will make his know how much he is loved and we will be awaiting his return to his musical home, The Grand Ole Opry.  He has been my dear friend, for many, many years, so I know that you will keep him in your prayers for his treatment and a complete speedy recovery – Marty

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 If you have anyone you would like to send a prayer out to please mail them to

martymartel@earthlink.net

for inclusion in to WHISNews21 weekly prayer line initiated by Marty Martel

in the interest of goodwill to all in need of a little help by the way of a prayer