Staying positive and inspiring hope in others can often be an extremely difficult thing to do, especially when suffering from chronic pain, a long-term debilitating illness, or some type of a fatal disease. Personally, I do my absolute best these days to transcend my own painful limitations I’ve had to deal with over the past few years so that I can be that for others. But sometimes it takes some external inspiration to continue generating that and one way I do this is by watching a little gem of a movie I own now that’s titled “Letters To God.”
“Letters To God” is loosely based on the true story of Tyler Doherty, who was only 8 years old when diagnosed with a very aggressive form of brain cancer called Medulloblastoma. During the remaining two years of his life, Tyler went on to endure many high dose radiation treatments and chemotherapy, as well as several stem cell transplants. Yet through it all, he consistently retained a huge will to live, a smiling face, and a positive attitude that inspired many around him. One of the things that Tyler did in his remaining months to help keep himself going was to write several letters to God, of which would go on to become the inspiration for the movie itself.
This movie humbled me greatly when I first saw it several years ago. In fact, it was the first thing that ever made me look at my chronic pain issues from a completely different light. It was actually because of this movie that I began to realize I didn’t have to live in constant misery for as long as my physical pains might last. Since then, I’ve re-watched this film again and again anytime I find myself needing a gentle reminder of this. I’m so grateful for someone like Tyler Doherty who found plenty of ways to keep on smiling no matter how unfortunate his circumstances were in life. The hope and encouragement he gave to others is demonstrated so beautifully in the movie and I encourage anyone to go see it, particularly those who may be suffering from any of their own unfortunate conditions life has handed them.
So Tyler, I want to thank you for having been such a powerful vessel of love during your very brief life, even through all the pain and tribulations you had to go through. I’m dedicating to you my own letter to God because of it. May you be blessed Tyler wherever your are now, and may your story continue to bless many others just like it has for myself.
Dear God,
I want to thank you for people like Tyler Doherty, who you sent here to become such an inspiration to many others like myself. I know I haven’t always been able to maintain the most positive and upbeat attitude possible when it comes to the health issues I’ve been going through these past few years. But I want You to know that I will keep doing my best to remain as optimistic as I can, so that I may too be a source of hope for others going through their own trials in life just like Tyler once did. Thank You God for the humility I’ve been learning because of my current circumstances and thank You once again for Tyler Doherty, as I know his story is one that will continue to inspire me to persevere no matter what I end up having to go through during the remainder of my life…
Love always,
Andrew
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson
