My blessing this day...

[Mike Vande]

My blessings today are the friends God has given me. Over the years, a lot of people have come and gone. Many of them were great while they were within close range, but for some reason either they or I had to move on, and no communication has happened since. Others have moved on, but have managed to stay in contact to one degree or another. The ones that I am able to treasure are the ones that are still with me to a greater or lesser degree.

My best friend in the world is a guy named Steve Graff. I met him in the fall of 1971. I was walking down the street with a guitar case in hand, and I heard a voice from behind me yell “Hey!” I looked around, and this blond guy on a ten speed bike with this oddly aggressive grin was rolling up behind me. “What’s in the case?” he asked, and that was the beginning of a friendship that has lasted 36 years this fall.

Steve was instrumental in pointing me to Jesus, and was the first person I called when a genuine conversion finally took place in my heart and life. Shortly after that happened, I got out of the Navy. He picked me up at the airport in Kansas City, and I stopped to visit him and his wife for a few days in Sedalia. I ended up staying for about 14 years. They took me to worship that Sunday, and I was so knocked out by their church I decided to see if the Lord would open a few doors for me to stay there. Needless to say, He did.

We put together a band with another close friend, Pat Dodson, and played music together, more on than off, for more than 25 years. He and his wife Ann have been there for me through a lot of stuff, good and bad. He was my best man when I was married, stood by me after my divorce, helped me move house innumerable times, prayed for me, put up with me AND put me up a lot, fed me, carried me and loved me as a brother. He has been the best example of Jesus I could have asked for in a friend, and I look forward to spending eternity with him, talking about harps or whatever stringed instruments we have we get home.

There are other folks I count as friends, some I can still see when I want to and some that I can’t. You all know who you are. If I had more time, I’d talk about you too, but it would take a book, and I don’t have time to write one right now. But rest assured, whether I met you over the internet, or in person, knew you for a long or short time, even if we haven’t seen each other for years, I still thank God for you.

[dalebert]

Mike ....i really enjoyed this post...thanks for sharing..

[soulsearcher]

Outside of Jesus, a friend that sticks closer than a brother is a rare find, but, like you, Mike, I have been blessed with a few (most all of them musicians), and pray that I have been than kind of friend to others.

Thanks for the reminder of the blessing of friendship.

[JustJay]

Mike,

I really really enjoyed this post. I'm in tears. Wow, what a friend.