Happy Soul Food Friday!
This week:
- A Letter from the Post Office
- Your Purpose Finding You and the Gifts of the Specially Abled
- When are Employee Wellness Incentives No Longer Voluntary?
If you are local:
- Remembering a Great Educator: Chips Dreilinger
- San Diego National Philanthropy Day Deadline extended deadline to Wednesday, June 10, 5pm so send in Your Nominees!
- See Differently! Killer Logos
A Letter from the Post Office
We don’t know who replied, but there is a beautiful soul working in the dead letter department who understands LOVE……
Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month.
The day after she passed away 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 that we could, so she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog?
Abbey died yesterday and is with you in heaven.
I miss her very much.
I ‘m 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 swim and play with balls.
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 & Meredith, and addressed it to God/Heaven.
We put our return address on it.
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 and I recognized her 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 ‘m 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
Don’t say you’re too busy to forward this. Just go ahead and do it.
—
Your Purpose Finding You and the Specially Abled
http://www.dailygood.org/story/1007/everybody-is-good-at-something-meeting-v-r-ferose-nipun-mehta/
When are Employee Wellness Incentives No Longer Voluntary?
If You Are Local…
Remembering a Great Educator: Chips Dreilinger by Patty M
It is with a heavy heart that I share with you all the sad news that Chips Dreilinger passed away this past Monday, peacefully, at his home in Encinitas. Though he has been ill off and on since his retirement in 2002, this was still unexpected.
Chips served as the Dean of Muir College for 23 years, retiring in 2002.
It is truly difficult to fully account for the impact Chips had on student life and the community at Muir College. So much that we value in our Muir community today is because of his efforts as Dean. Many traditions we have today were inspired through his leadership. Traditions including Muirstock, John Muir Week, the Pumpkin Drop, even the UnOlympics (he was proud we won the shoe this year), and Spirit Night. And the generations of students whose lives he impacted in both small and large ways will never forget him. He was truly a quintessential “Muiron” and a dedicated advocate on behalf of all students. He was well known around the campus – not the least of all for his attire. He would typically come to work in jean shorts and a Muir t-shirt (added by Pat – flip-flops!). You knew if he had a meeting across campus because on those days he would wear full jeans – and a Muir t-shirt. Chips combined a perfect blend of humor and intellect to just about every situation he encountered. I know the stories involving Chips are endless and will be shared among many for years to come.
Services are not as of yet planned but in lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in remembrance of Chips to Paws’itive Teams – a local organization that trains and places service dogs and where Chips was matched with his beloved dog, Jed. Their website is the following: http://www.pawsteams.org/
For those of you wishing to send condolences, memories and any other “Chips” stories – Anna Dreilinger’s email is add@ucsd.edu and I know she and Chips’ family would appreciate them all.
While we never were able to get him an elephant to ride into Unolympics on – I hope he is riding on one now!
National Philanthropy Day Deadline extended deadline to Wednesday, June 10, 5pm
Wednesday, June 10, 5 pm is the deadline to nominate an outstanding person or organization for a National Philanthropy Day award! We encourage nominations from you, your nonprofit partners and colleagues. The hardest part, I’m sure, will be deciding whom to nominate from among the many deserving candidates you know. More information about the nomination categories and the November 9 event ceremony is below.
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Nominate Someone Making a Difference |
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Do you know of a story that needs to be told? We want to include the good work being done in your community! Submitting a nomination for National Philanthropy Day San Diego And the nominations are EASY! The AFP San Diego Chapter annually recognizes individuals and organizations whose philanthropic achievements have made an impact in the San Diego region, Imperial County and Tijuana. While we are looking forward to building on the success of our predecessors, we are expanding our vision of inclusion and celebrating and honoring the rich diversity of our region. Let’s honor those who embrace philanthropy on November 9, 2015, at the Nominate someone that you feel deserves to be acknowledged for their efforts. Nomination Categories: Outstanding Philanthropist Please help AFP San Diego honor one of its own and nominate someone today. |
NPD 2015 Presenting Sponsor
See Differently!
Killer Logos
YOU WILL NEVER LOOK AT THESE LOGOS THE SAME WAY EVER AGAIN
Thanks this week go to Barbara S-B, Pat D/A, Patty M and the whole Chips fan club from Muir, Nancy J and the NPD team & Anurag T.
Pay it forward!
EVOL,
Neville
Happy Soul Food Friday! 