I attended church every Sunday from before my earliest memory until after I was married at the age of 23. My parents weren't the God-Squad type, but they were brought up with old fashioned values, one of which was that you put on your Sunday best and went to Sunday School every week. Don't get me wrong I often didn't want to go, let's face it, 99.9% of my classmates didn't go to church, but I loved it (it made me top of the class at RE when I got to comprehensive school - I even seemed to know more than the actual teacher), I made a different set of friends and as I grew older, what I once classed as the 'Old Biddies' in my younger years, I could now call my friends too. When I moved away from the area they all kept in touch, they couldn't have been happier when I gave birth to Violet, and were overjoyed when I asked if she could be Baptised in the same church I'd grown up with and where I gotten married 13 years previously. So, every now and again I like to pop over and say hi to the ever diminishing congregation (the 'Old Biddies' are dying off, which is extremely sad and there aren't any young people taking their place).
Anyway, on Easter Sunday I decided that it was time for a visit - I couldn't have been given a warmer welcome. Violet was such a hit with everyone and they commented on how much she looked like me at that age (I've know them all that long).
The lady preacher was extrememly nervous and my heart went out to her. I can't remember the sermon she gave, but I do remember the meditation she read.
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Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. 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. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her. You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, “To Meredith,” in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, “When a Pet Dies.” Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven.
Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. 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 easy to find. I am wherever there is love.
Love, God
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I'm not ashamed to say, I cried buckets.
I just thought of how wonderful it was that someone at the Post Office took the time out to write back to this little girl enclosing a book on how to cope with her feelings of grief over the death of a most beloved pet?
I do find it extremely difficult to believe that God exists, but I know for a lot of people he/she does and I admire their faith.
I hope I haven't offended anyone by writing this post today.
