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When the
Scrivener family lost Abbey, their much beloved 14-year-old dog to liver
cancer, it affected their 4-year-old Meredith deeply. She approached her
parents with pen and paper and said that she wanted to write a letter to
God.
With the
help of her mother, Joy, Meredith wrote the letter and together they mailed it
off at their neighborhood's post office in Brook Hollow, Texas. The letter
was addressed "To: God in Heaven," and included the family's return
address and some photos of Abbey, so God would recognize her. Meredith added
extra stamps to the letter, given the distance it had to go.
Two weeks later the family returned home to find a
gold-wrapped package on their front porch. The mysterious package was addressed
to Meredith and signed 'God, and one of his special angels'.
When
Meredith opened the package, inside was the Fred Rogers book When a Pet Dies
and a response to her letter on pink paper and Abbey's photos
attached.
Here is
Meredith's letter and the reply she received:
Dear God,
Will you
please take care of our dog, Abbey? She died yesterday and she is in heaven
now. We hope that Abbey is OK now and that she isn't sick anymore. We love you
for letting us have Abbey even though she died. We are sending pictures of
Abbey in the little envelopes so that you can see what she looks like and you
will know her when you see her.
Love,
Meredith Claire.
PS: Mommy
wrote it after Mer told her the words.
Dear
Meredith,
I know you
will be happy to know that Abbey arrived safely and soundly in Heaven. Having
the picture you sent was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.
You know,
Mer, she isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me, just like it 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
am sending your beautiful letter back with the pictures so you will have this
little memory book to keep.
Thank you
for your beautiful letter. Thank your mother for sending it. What a wonderful
mother you have; I picked her just for you.
God, and one
of his special angels who wrote this letter after God told her the words.
Meredith's
parents were surprised and deeply touched that someone took the care to help
ease Meredith's grief at losing Abbey. Joy originally shared her story with the
San Antonio Express-News and later told United
Methodist Reporter that Meredith was not at all stunned liker
her parents were upon receiving a response to her letter. "When she
received the package, she was happy, but she wasn't surprised," Joy said.
"There was no doubt in Meredith's mind that her letter was going to
heaven."
Meredith's
letter was written in 2006 and Meredith is now 10-years-old. She is "doing
great" and "still has a big heart for animals" according to her
mom. She and her family have two new canine friends in the home with a collie
and a terrier. And Meredith and her angel’s exchange of letters continue to be
shared online, touching many with its simple message of kindness and love.
See more at: http://www.dogheirs.com/dogsarefamily/posts/2334-angel-at-the-post-office-responds-to-young-girl-s-heartfelt-letter-after-loss-of-beloved-dog#sthash.1MMgyLeB.dpuf