A Letter

Sometimes heroes come wearing capes and brandishing superpowers. We picture someone strong, ready to take on evildoers. A gathering of such superheroes would be surprised to find my hero in their midst. My superhero’s sidekick was a golden retriever named Brandy, and her secret weapon was an autoharp. I decided it was time to write her a letter expressing my thanks to her for her impact on my life.

Dear Mrs. Roemer,

I can still remember you coming into my Sunday School classroom, Brandy’s seeing-eye dog harness in one hand and your autoharp under your other arm. Those were my favorite Sundays! Even though we could not see your eyes behind your dark glasses, I and the rest of the kindergartners in the class could feel the love you had for us. You would come and sit among us, Brandy lying at your feet with her head on her paws, waiting for you to give us permission to stroke her soft fur. And then you would stroke your autoharp. Sometimes I still catch myself singing, “Love Him, Love Him, All you little children, God is Love, God is Love…” My brother’s favorite was “Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam.” I’ll bet he still sings it occasionally! Like I said, we knew you loved us, but we also knew you loved Jesus. It showed through your words, your singing, and through your faithfulness and determination to share that love for Him with us, children you could not see. I couldn’t say how many years you and Brandy came to our class every Sunday. Nor can I remember the names of any of my teachers from those early days. Now, when children are baptized in our church, and we recite the baptismal vows to nurture them in the Christian faith, I often think of you and your example. In a way, it seems like you are still sharing your love for God, I hope, through me and so many others who sang those simple songs of faith with you when we were children ourselves.

I looked up your name on the Internet this morning. I learned that you went to be with Jesus, whom you loved so much, 17 years ago at the age of 97. I learned a lot of other things, too. Like the fact that you were an artist and a poet, an historian and an activist for native Americans. You wrote a couple of children’s books, including one you co-authored with Brandy! All of those accomplishments would make you a superhero in some people’s books, no doubt. But for me, it was your coming down the stairs, led by Brandy and carrying your autoharp to sing with children you saw with your heart, if not with your eyes, to share the love of and for God with them.

Thank you, Mildred Roemer, for being the hero who taught me that “God is Love.”

-Wendy (Davison) Guillemette