Dear Natalie.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed since my most recent Dear Natalie post.
Thank you for sharing your stories, your love and your courage.

Here's one letter I received from someone named Melissa.

Dear Natalie,

I stumbled on your blog post written on 1-7-2009 and I'm sitting here lost in my tears. I don't know much about you because I just found your blog, but as soon as I read that post I knew I had to write you. I lost my brother suddenly in August. His name was Michael and mine is Melissa. When we were growing up we were the M&M gang, he was in every way my best friend. When you said that when he died that you we no longer Gavin's sister, you were just Natalie. Alone. That is exactly how I feel right now.

Now having said that I want you to know that I know Jesus in my heart and so did my brother. I have the blessed assurance that I will see him again, but the pain here on this earth in my body is so much.

I am getting to know a new me and she is strange and unfamiliar but she is who I have become.

I do not think I stumbled on your blog by accident, I know God crossed our paths. Thank you so much, I feel like I am not alone in my grief by reading your post.

Melissa

Melissa,

I don't think you stumbled across my blog by accident either.
I love this platform that allows us to connect
and draw comfort from each other from all over the world.
Thank you for sharing so openly.
My heart is truly intertwined with yours.
You are in my prayers my sweet stranger friend.
I pray that your heart will be comforted as you adjust to your new reality
and seek to find your new sense of self.

Remember, Michael is closer than you know.

With love,

Natalie