Michael Bearden Instagram – Please indulge, as I’d like to share a quick story I was told from my friend, and legend @NileRodgers, as we were catching up recently. ⠀ ⠀ Nile was working with the #MakeAWishFoundation and a young girl with a terminal illness wanted to meet Michael. She had written a letter. Nile, who knew MJ for a long time, contacted Michael and told him about the letter. He also asked if they could come to the show when he was in NYC. It was the ‘Off the Wall’ tour. MJ’s first solo tour.⠀ ⠀ Not only did Michael oblige with the tickets, he spotted Nile and the young girl in the audience, made his way off stage while performing, and went over to them to invite them backstage after the show. As you might imagine, everyone wanted to know who the little girl was.⠀ ⠀ The little girl was able to meet MJ and many of the other celebrities that attended the show. Needless to say, she had the time of her life.⠀ ⠀ MJ called Nile many months later to work on something in the studio with him when he got back to NYC. MJ asked Nile about the little girl. Michael didn’t know she passed away maybe less than a month after the concert.⠀ ⠀ With everything that goes on in a typical day for MJ, the fact that he even remembered the encounter at all, after so much time had passed is amazing. Yes. ⠀ ⠀ But, the even more extraordinary thing is that the little girl was actually thankful for her terminal illness! She said that if she had not been stricken with the disease that would eventually end her life, a regular, ordinary person like her (paraphrasing her words) would never have even had the chance to meet MJ in person. ⠀ ⠀ Think about THAT! How many of us would ever think to flip it like that?! That story blew me away when Nile told it to me.⠀ ⠀ The last thing MJ said to me was, “God bless you. Love you. See you tomorrow.” (We said that almost every night) And, I never saw him again. I just assumed I would.⠀ ⠀ Never take ANY of this for granted! Every day is a complete blessing! No matter the circumstances on the outside. I am embracing even more gratitude today and every day moving forward. I’d like to be as profound and inspiring as that little girl when grow up!⠀ ⠀ MJ! You are ❤️’d🙏🏾 M~