Sunday, April 5, 2009

Coupla Cool Stories...

My sister works with a woman who was an emergency nurse at the Oklahoma City bombing disaster. She was telling a story about how there were so many rescue dogs onsite and how after awhile all the dogs would howl. She asked one of the dog handlers why they do that & he said that they cry out when they haven't been able to rescue anyone. Just like our pet dogs, these dogs want to please their people & when they can't, they get frustrated & cry. She said he also told her that after awhile, when the dogs are "off shift" from the rescue site, the handlers take them to a field & take turns burying themselves in the dirt so the dogs can rescue someone. It keeps them motivated, and eases their pain (yes, pain) from not having found any survivors. Wow.

The other story came in the form of one of those routed emails...and it just struck a chord. My parents - well, the family - lost our Abby last summer so it was especially meaningful:

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

1 comment:

MW said...

Yay for sharing the stories!
Boo for making my eyes tear up.

; )

those were great!