Just a smile

[jacquelinebabco]

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*

[orlnurse]

Oh my gosh...that brought a smile to my face but along with tears! How very sweet of Meredith to be so thoughtful. Hopefully the letter from God with the book will provide some comfort for her. Sorry to hear about Abbey.

[babbsiam44]

That is very sweet.

[bettyeanne]

I am terribly sorry for the loss of your beautiful Abbey. This is the most beautiful explaination of pet loss to a child I have ever heard. So often I don't believe that parents realize how pet loss affects children and the explaination can affect them for the rest of their lives. I am passing this along to my daughter as a reference, when the time comes, and she is faced with an explaination to her children. God bless you and Meredith. RIP sweet Abbey.

[PrincessLila]

That was so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes.

[joekhoo]

That is so sweet.

[shawnzeppi]

What a beautiful way to handle explaining a pet's loss (or loss of any loved one) to your child. You are a very special and clever mom for thinking of that! Thanks for the post, and so sorry for your loss.

[Lil Sis]

thank you for sharing.... that made me cry..but in a good way

[jacquelinebabco]

Oh, no I got this in an email and posted it thinking others would enjoy. MY ABBY is not dead. She has CHF but has not died. Actually she was put on some new medicine and has been doing well. This story just happened to be about another dog named Abbey.
Thank God it's not my girl...

Originally Posted by jacquelinebabco

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*

[Her Name Is Rio]

That was wonderful - crying as I write this. Thank you for sharing.