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.
>
>She dictated and I wrote:
>
>Dear God,
>
>Will you please take special 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 liked 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 she is our special dog. But I really do miss her.
>Love,
>Meredith Claire
>P.S. Mommy wrote the words after I told them to her.
>
>We put that in an envelope with two pictures of Abbey, and addressed it
>to God in Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith stuck
>some stamps on the front (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 the post office.
>
>For a few days, she would ask 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.
>Curious, I went to look at it. It had a gold star card on the front and
>said ''To Meredith'' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith took it in 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 pictures 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 Meredith,
>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 am in heaven but wherever there is love, I am there also.
>
>Love,
>God and the special angel who wrote this after God told her the words
>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 special 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 liked 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 she is our special dog. But I really do miss her.
>Love,
>Meredith Claire
>P.S. Mommy wrote the words after I told them to her.
>
>We put that in an envelope with two pictures of Abbey, and addressed it
>to God in Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith stuck
>some stamps on the front (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 the post office.
>
>For a few days, she would ask 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.
>Curious, I went to look at it. It had a gold star card on the front and
>said ''To Meredith'' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith took it in 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 pictures 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 Meredith,
>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 am in heaven but wherever there is love, I am there also.
>
>Love,
>God and the special angel who wrote this after God told her the words
