There is a God in the Post Office

[dimity_blue]

I thought this would be an urban legend. According to Snopes, it's true.



Some of you may know that our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month (8/23). The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her.

She dictated and I wrote:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of our dog, Abbey? She died yesterday and is in heaven. We miss her very much. We are happy that you let us have her as our dog even though she got sick. I hope that you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and swim before she got sick. I am sending some pictures of her so that when you see her in heaven you will know that she is our special dog. But I really do miss her.

Love,
Meredith Claire.

P.S.: Mommy wrote the words after Mer told them to her.

We put that in an envelope with 2 pictures of Abbey, and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Mer stuck some stamps on the front of the envelope (because, as she said, it may take lots of stamps to get a letter all the way to heaven) and that afternoon I let her drop it into the letter box at thepost office.

For a few days, she would ask if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday, for Labor Day, we took the kids to Austin to a natural history museum. When we got back, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch. Curious. I went to look at it. It had a gold star card on the front and said "To: Mer" an unfamiliar hand.

Meredith took it and opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers, When a Pet Dies. Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope (which was marked 'Return to Sender: Insufficient address'). On the opposite page, one of the picture of Abbey was taped under the words "For Meredith." We turned to the back cover, and there was the other picture of Abbey, and this handwritten note on pink paper:

Dear Mer,

I know that you will be happy to know that Abbey arrived safely and soundly in Heaven! Having the pictures you sent to me was such a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.

You know, Meredith, she isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me - just like she stays in your heart - young and running and playing. Abbey loved being your dog, you know. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets! - so I can't keep your beautiful letter. I am sending it to you with the pictures so that you will have this book to keep and remember Abbey.

One of my angels is taking care of this for me. I hope the little book helps.

Thank you for the beautiful letter. Thank your mother for sending it. What a wonderful mother you have! I picked her especially for you.

I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm in heaven and wherever there is love.

Love,
God and the special angel who wrote this after God told her the words.

As a parent and a pet lover, this is one of the kindest things that I've ever experienced. I have no way to know who sent it, but there is some very kind soul working in the dead letter office.

Comments

[lightly.livejournal.com]

*tear*

Oh that is lovely!

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I thought so. I teared up reading it too.

[sallye.livejournal.com]

ack - no tearing up! I"ve got a cold and that will just stuff my sinuses up even more! I'd read this once before, and thought there was a very special person working in that post office.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

My Mum has a cold - reading this seemed to clear her sinuses!

Hope you're feeling better soon though. ::hugs::

[shiredancer.livejournal.com]

That was soooo nice! *has tears* There really are some angels in this world, aren't there? *Hugs*

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I thought it was incredibly sweet. How kind of the person in the dead letter office to do all that. ::hugs Sally tightly::