Now that the cakes have been eaten and the party hats have been put away, I can reflect on the season that was. My daughter Leah turned 1, I turned 40, my wife Shauna turned %* and my son Aiden is now 4.
As a teenager, adults tell you to enjoy your life because time flies. It turns out the adults were right. That's a tough thing for any teenager, current or former, to admit. Now I get the privilege of reliving my childhood through my kids. Seriously. Think about it. If you saw me playing with toys in the front yard, you'd think I was crazy. But if I am playing with toys in the the front yard with my son, I'm a great dad. It's funny how that works.
My favourite part of spending time with my four-year-old son Aiden is the conversation. His perspective on life is funny, intriguing, innocent, intelligent, and humbling. I guess that's why I found this story so great. Not only did this four-year-old remind me of my own son with her child like innocence, but also how rewarding life can be when we look at it through the eyes of a child.
Taken from www.inspire21.com
a 4-year-old's letter to god
There is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the U.S. Postal Service somewhere...
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:
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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.
(written by the mother of Mer Claire)
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(written by the mother of Mer Claire)
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We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to: God in 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, titled, "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:
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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 am wherever there is love.
"Love, God"
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