THE POSTAL SERVICE NO ONE HEARS ABOUT.....

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

We put that in an envelope with two pictures of Abbey, and addressed it to
God in Heaven. We put our retu rn 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. 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 wonderf ul 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