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We had many supporters attend this year, more
so than any other. What a wonderful gathering it made, on a crisp, clear
winter evening, with several holding the leashes of their best friends.
Sue began with this wonderful story...
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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 pictures 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 pictures in, so I am sending them 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 |
Rev. Robert Martin followed up with a story of his own, describing how a
resident dog in the hospice where his father was being cared for would never
visit his father's room. Then towards the end the dog did visit, when at
the last moments of his father's life the dog sat at the bedside until the man
passed, then walking out of the room. The Reverend then read to us "The
Rainbow Bridge," well-known to so many of us, yet never old.
We then retired to the shelter lobby to warm up, fill up and talk it up.
Lights of Remembrance has found a
permanent home at the shelter, this being the sixth year that the
ceremony has been held on the shelter plaza. Each year the ceremony is
observed on December 6, in honor of the birthday of Emily Ross, one of
our most dedicated volunteers.
If you would like to include a memorial listing of your pets, passed
and/or present, but have not received a donation form in the mail, click this link to download the donation form
and mail it to the shelter. You will need to have Adobe Reader installed to use the form.
Each year thereafter you will receive yours in the mail.
Thank you for supporting Lights of
Remembrance!
We'd like to hear from you, so feel free to email us with your comments
or questions, and keep those letters and pictures coming!
Email LOR
"We who choose to surround ourselves with
lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle,
easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still
would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain
immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan."
from "The Once Again Prince," Separate
Lifetimes, by Irving Townsend
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Scenes from the 2008 Tree Lighting Ceremony
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 PAHS
Director Sue MacWhinney-Ciufo
reads at the tree lighting ceremony.
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 Emily's Tree in
all it's LOR grandeur,
along with the Star.
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 Rev.
Robert Martin, pastor of the
Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church.
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