A letter to Emma
I usually ignore things on Facebook that encourage me to share something or write a letter to someone I don’t know.
It’s not that I’m heartless but I figure if a post making that request is bouncing around social media for a few days the person on the other end is going to get about a million emails or letters, so they don’t need mine. And of course there is always the chance it’s a scam or simply not true and then you’ve just fed into this time wasting nonsense.
I made my first exception to that rule last night when several people sent me the same post about a little girl in Wisconsin named Emma from who is very, very sick. Instead of asking for “get well” cards the young lady wants to get letters and emails from people’s dogs. That’s right; she wants “dogs” to write her.
Since I’m a dog lover I decided to send Emma a special note. Mine however, I’m guessing, is completely different than the thousands of others she’s receiving. You see there’s a chance Emma won’t survive her brain tumor she is fighting so I decided I didn’t want to write her a letter she’d want but a letter she’d need.
I shared what I wrote on Facebook as a way of letting people know I saw their requests. What happened next surprised me. A number of people sent me private messages telling me the letter to Emma helped them cope with a death in their own lives.
I have no way of knowing if Emma will even see it but perhaps one of you reading this column today will find some solace in my words. You might assume as you read this that I was conjuring up a bit of fiction to make a sick child feel better. I did not and to me this is not fiction. I meant every word I wrote here. The letter is from my dog Samuel who died unexpectedly two years ago and is the focus of my first children’s book, “God Needed a Puppy.”
Hi Emma,
My name is Samuel and I have a secret to share with you. Can you keep a secret? OK, here it is. I know you are getting a lot of letters and emails right now from all over the country, maybe all over the world, but my email is different than all the rest. Want to know why?
Cause I’m sending you this from heaven. NO KIDDING.
Two years ago when I was just 6 months old I was kind of sick. I didn’t know it and my mom and dad didn’t know it. God came to me one night when I was dreaming and told me that I was very special and because of that he had a special mission for me. Like a secret agent mission but more fun. He needed me in heaven to play with lots of little boys and girls.
I heard you haven’t been feeling so well and that’s why I wanted to write you. I want you to know that no matter what, you are going to be OK. You know why? Because of LOVE. Love is super, duper magic, did you know that? Think about it.
It’s invisible but you can see it when you are around your family and friends.
You can’t touch it but you can wrap it around you like a warm blanket on a cold day.
You don’t eat or drink love but it ends up inside of you and fills you up with smiles and happiness.
And Emma, here’s the other thing to know. Love doesn’t stop just because we go from one place to another. Look at me. As much fun as I’m having in heaven right now I still love my family and they still love me and I know I’m going see them again someday. I guess what I’m saying Emma is that LOVE is a bridge that brings all places together.
You know when a cat or dog or hamster or bird or gold fish dies people like to say they cross the “rainbow bridge” to get to heaven. It sounds cool, to get to walk on an actual rainbow; but I think they should call it the LOVE BRIDGE because that’s what it’s made of, LOVE.
I know so many people love you Emma, especially God. How do I know? Because, he told me. He said, “Hey Samuel who are you writing a letter to?” and I said, “Emma.” And he said, “Oh I love that sweet girl.” He’s watching over you and your family every day.
I should probably go play now and you probably have more letters to read. Remember what I said Emma, LOVE is magic and you have lots of it. It’s all around you.
Your friend forever, Samuel
P.S. If we ever get a chance to meet some day can you please bring a ball to throw? I love chasing a ball and bringing it back. Bye!!!
John Gray is a news anchor on WXXA-Fox TV 23 and ABC’S WTEN News Channel 10. His column is published every Wednesday. Email him at johngray@fox23news.com.