‘Letters to God’ is a heartfelt tale of inspiration, redemption and hope. What happens when the paths of a child with cancer who writes letters to God and a postman on cross-roads of his life collide?
The movie is about what happens when one boy’s walk of faith crosses paths with one man’s search for meaning in life after losing all that he had. The resulting transformational journey touches the lives of everyone around them.
Child with cancer writes letters to God, the pen-pal
Tyler Doherty (played by Tanner Maguire) is an extraordinary 8-year old boy with an indomitable spirit, who is always trying to do what Jesus would do, in spite of having multiple brain tumors and undergoing chemotherapy.
Surrounded by a loving and supportive family and community and armed with the courage of his faith, the little boy faces his daily battle against cancer with courage and grace. To Tyler, God is a friend, a teacher and the ultimate pen pal. All of Tyler’s prayers take the form of letters which he composes and mails on a daily basis.
Messenger gets inspired to change his life and that of others
His letters find their way into the hands of Brady McDaniels (played by Jeffery Johnson) a substitute postman, standing at life’s crossroads after having lost custody of his son, because of his addiction to alcohol.
He is confused and conflicted as to what he should do, with all of these letters addressed “To God”.
The letters eventually get the beleaguered postman involved in the life of Tyler and his family who are battling cancer. The letters inspire Brady to seek a better life for himself and his own son who he lost through his alcohol addiction.
Brady realises what he must do with the letters. He makes a surprise decision that transforms his heart and uplifts his newly found friends and community. He does something exhilarating, inspired by the contagious effect of one boy’s unshakable faith in overcoming the odds.
The power of faith
Inspired by a true story, ‘Letters to God’ is a touching and intimate story about the galvanizing effect one child’s belief can have on his family, friends and community.
The movie shows us that although little Tyler suffered from brain cancer, he never let that come in the way of his undying faith in God. He felt that God was his closest friend and believed that every day was a new day, he was blessed to see.
Lessons from the movie
- The movie shows us a path where we find ourselves turning to God not only in times of sicknesses, but also praying with gratitude for the good things we receive. We need to have a strong belief in ourselves and be hopeful in every situation.
- The movie is a must-watch since it makes us understand that each one of us can alter our lives or those of people around us for the better, if we possess the right attitude.
- In traumatic situations, we often wonder “why me?” and the movie wants us to believe that everything happens for the reason. The reason might not always be a rosy one, but if viewed with the correct attitude, we can begin to understand its deeper meaning and deal with it in a positive manner.
Author
My name is Tamara De Abreu and I’m originally from Goa. Although I’m an optimist by nature, I try to take a balanced view of life. I come from a religious background with strong family values. I love socializing and meeting new people. I volunteered to help Cancer Awakens because I felt the need to stretch beyond the comfort of my little world and meet people who have been through a lot and still have a positive outlook towards life.
More from this series
| Title | About the article |
|---|---|
| Letters To God | Inspired by a true story, ‘Letters to God’ is a touching and intimate story about the galvanizing effect one child’s belief can have on his family, friends and community. |
| Wit | ‘Wit’ is a heart warming movie which shows a spirited fight against the debilitating illness called cancer. |
| My Life Without Me | ‘My Life Without Me’ shows us how vulnerable we can be and how dramatically things can change when we take control of our lives. |
| Ikiru | ‘Ikiru’ inspires us to keep our hopes alive and not fret over impending death and potential loss. |
| Dying Young | ‘Dying Young’ has a positive message – that there is always hope no matter what the situation is, provided you have the willingness and thirst to live life and not give up. |
| Life As A House | ‘Life as a House’ has an important lesson for us: It is never too late to right the wrongs of the past and rebuild that which has been left derelict – whether it is a home, a habit or a relationship. |
| Terms Of Endearment | ‘Terms of Endearment’ shows what cancer can do to relationships, the hardships and the mends and everything in between. |
| Love Story | Although now 40 years old, ‘Love Story’ could very well be the defining story of our time. |
| Anand | Despite knowing full well that he is going to die in a few months, ‘Anand’ is ever-smiling and tries to make people around him happy, because he believes in making new friends and enjoying life to the fullest. |
| The Bucket List | ‘The Bucket List’ is a comedy–drama which traces the journey of two terminally ill cancer patients and how they fulfill all their unfulfilled wishes in a few short months. |
| Brian’s Song | The main message of ‘Brian’s Song’ is to look for the brighter side of everything, which carries us through the worst storms and to appreciate true friendship as something invaluable and beautiful |
